Understanding the Life Cycle of the Mosquito – So You Can Get Rid of Them More Effectively
- May 07, 2024
- 3 mins, 6 secs read
Much to our dismay, mosquitoes are some of the most adaptable insects on the planet. Almost any body of water, whether natural or man-made, is a potential place for their production. Evolutionarily successful, mosquitoes have been found in highly diverse locations in the world, from mines a mile beneath the surface to mountain peaks soaring at 14,000 feet. They are practically everywhere – there’s a strong likelihood that they are breeding in your own backyard while you are reading this.
If you are in the United States, you’re fighting against about 176 mosquito species. While only a handful of these American species carry diseases, many others are annoying enough to significantly impact your quality of life.
In this post, we’ll present you with information on their life cycle so you can understand how to get rid of them more effectively. The mosquito life cycle goes: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Egg
It all starts with the female mosquito laying eggs on the wet walls of containers, above the waterline. This can be an overlooked spot such as a neglected puddle in your backyard or a forgotten flower pot or in your kitchen with some water in the saucer. It only takes a tiny amount of water to attract the female mosquito. Researchers recently also found out that mosquitoes lay their eggs near watery areas, on just about anything (such as a leaf) that is just above or just near the water.
Mosquitoes generally lay around a hundred eggs at a time. These eggs stick to their locations like glue and can even survive dryness for up to 8 months— even over the winter months in some parts of the United States. Eggs hatch from a few days to several months.
Larva
From the eggs hatch the larvae but only after the water level rises to cover them. What this means is that your adding water to containers or saucers will help eggs to turn into larvae. Rainwater is another culprit – and one that’s unpreventable. Once hatched, the larvae eat the microorganisms found in the water. They molt three times and then metamorphose into pupae in as little as 5 days.
Pupa
Pupae undergo maturation until the newly developed adult mosquito emerges from the pupal skin and takes flight, leaving the water. Pupae develop into adult flying mosquitoes in just 2-3 days.
Adult
The entire life cycle, from an egg to a buzzing adult, takes approximately 8-10 days. The adult male mosquito feeds on nectar from flowers and the female mosquito… feeds on us and our animal friends for blood. Rich in nutrients, our blood helps her to reproduce and lay more eggs.
Adult mosquitoes can be found pretty much everywhere – inside your home, office, and other buildings where windows have been left open or door screens are nonexistent. A female mosquito with an adequate food (read: blood) supply can live up to 5 months or even longer. That said, the average female life span is about 6 weeks.
What you can do to get rid of mosquitoes
- You can begin by denying them egg laying spots. No water, no baby mosquitoes! Take a look around your yard and see if you have puddles, or places where puddles tend to form when it rains. Get rid of any old flower pots lying around.
- Install a bug screen on your doors especially if you live in an area with violent mosquito seasons.
- If you have a humidity problem inside your house, address the problem immediately.
- Get Bzigo Iris – a computer vision-powered indoor mosquito guardian. Bzigo Iris sees mosquitoes before you do and alerts you to their presence and location. Bzigo Iris works with an eye-safe laser beam, and it involves no chemicals, pesticides, odors, or sounds.
