How Do Mosquitoes Breed: Different Ways to Attract Mosquitoes to Your Property

It’s almost that time of the year, where you get to enjoy evening dips, toast marshmallows, or set up a backyard camp with the kids. Naturally, you’ll start to prep your backyard by cleaning the swimming pool and mowing the lawn. While cleaning, you might realize that your home has become a breeding ground to a scourge of voracious mosquitoes, but you can’t seem to figure out why. So, how do mosquitoes breed around your property? Read on to find out.

Mosquito Life Cycle

The mosquito life cycle has four stages: the egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Eggs

Various egg sizes exist due to the different mosquito species. Typically, the eggs are tinier than pepper grains. Besides that, the egg type and disposition form determine which species is present. Additionally, if the eggs are floating on water (permanent water eggs), these types will hatch within two days. Other egg types include floodwater eggs. All these mosquitoes require water to lay.

For instance, the culex mosquito lays permanent water eggs typically in birdbaths, gutters, and inside tires. In comparison, the Aedes mosquitoes will lay their eggs and hatch on vegetation growing in flooding areas.

Larvae

Mosquito larvae, a.k.a. wrigglers, stay in the water. However, they will swim to the surface to suck air using their “siphon.” Not every mosquito has a siphon. The Anopheles mosquito, for instance, has spiracles.

Pupae/Tumblers

Like the larvae, pupae must come onto the surface to breathe oxygen using appendages referred to as trumpets. Additionally, since their mouths are inside their bodies, pupae don’t feed. Instead, they rely on the larvae energy reserves.

Adult

The adult stage is the final phase. This stage occurs when the pupae split open and the adult mosquito comes to the surface. Surprisingly, it only takes four minutes for the hatching to complete.

Female mosquitoes are especially troubling to humans and animals because of their blood-feeding habits. They typically live for over one month and will need a blood meal to lay eggs. These female mosquitoes rely on different cues such as carbon dioxide, body heat, and scent to get suitable hosts. In comparison, male mosquitoes don’t feed on blood, and they only live for about two weeks.

Florida’s Most Notorious Mosquito Species

While there are more than 80 mosquito species in Florida, The University of Florida highlights five species to be more dangerous to Florida residents.

• Aedes aegypti
• Aedes albopictus
• Culex quinquefasciatus
• Aedes taeniorhynchus
• Psorophora ciliate

How Do Mosquitoes Breed?

Despite what you may think, it doesn’t take much for your home to become a mosquito breeding site.

• Old tires. It’s common for homeowners to have a few spare tires lying around that make ideal swing sets and barriers. Unfortunately, these tires hold rainwater, making them a perfect breeding ground.
• Swimming pools. We know how essential swimming pools are for a fun-filled summer. However, these yard accessories are another ideal mosquito breeding ground if left uncovered or untreated for an extended period.
• Garbage bins. Unless tightly sealed, these bins collect water, creating the ideal temperature and water conditions for mosquitoes to breed.
• Roof gutters. Gutters are perhaps the most common mosquito breeding ground on your property. Leaves and other debris tend to accumulate on gutters which end up blocking the gutters from draining rainwater.
• Drums. You can begin to see the trend. Any item that results in standing water is a perfect breeding site. Such items include buckets, drums, and outdoor toys.
• Ornamentals. Birdbaths are not only beautiful additions to your outdoor property but also attract birds. Unfortunately, these ornamentals and others, including waterfalls and candle holders, are excellent breeding sites for these bloodthirsty insects.

Tips to Prevent Mosquitoes

Now that you know how mosquitos breed, you’re probably wondering if there’s anything you can do to get rid of them. Mosquito control primarily focuses on reducing the existing breeding sites around your property. You can achieve this through the following measures.

• It would help if you did regular lawn and garden maintenance to prevent stagnant water.
• Dispose of all items that hold rainwater, such as tires and sheeting. Turn the other outdoor items such as pet bowls and wheelbarrows over.
• Regularly change the water in birdbaths and other ornamentals.
• Cover your swimming pool when not in use and treat it regularly

Note that mosquito traps such as bug zappers and other commonly advertised devices are ineffective in reducing mosquito populations.

Mosquito Control in Clearwater

Home preventive measures are not sufficient to keep mosquitoes out of your property. Remember, different mosquito species carry bacteria and viruses such as the West Nile and La Crosse. And, some mosquito bites can lead to life-threatening conditions like Encephalitis. Effective mosquito control requires proper inspections, elimination of breeding sites, and specialized treatment. The team at McDonald Pest Control can offer customized mosquito treatments. For more information, call us at 727-734-0963 today to schedule a free consultation. Check out our coupons as well!