Do all mosquitoes bite, or do only the females bite? There are a lot that people don’t know about mosquito bites. For homeowners, it’s important to understand why, when and where mosquitoes are most likely to bite.
If you’re dealing with a mosquito issue on your property, the most effective way to approach the problem is to get expert help. A pest control specialist can reduce the mosquito population at every phase of the life cycle and minimize the risk of mosquito bites on your property.
Do Only Female Mosquitoes Bite?
A little-known fact about mosquitoes is that only female mosquitoes bite humans and other animals. The reason for this is that females need a blood meal to obtain protein and other nutrients needed to produce eggs.
Since male mosquitoes do not need the nutrients from blood, they feed on nectar and plant juices instead.
When Do Mosquitoes Bite?
Female mosquitoes can bite at any time of the day or night, which is why it’s important to take mosquito prevention seriously. While most mosquito species are more active at night, there are some species, such as the Aedes mosquitoes, that bite during the day.
Some environmental conditions can also increase your risk of mosquito bites. For example, mosquitoes are extremely active in areas with standing water. Mosquito eggs are laid on or near water and go through the first few phases of their life cycle submerged until they become adults.
If your property has several standing water spots, it is more likely to attract mosquitoes. Standing water spots can include:
- Buckets or wheelbarrows filled with rainwater
- Pet water bowls
- Outdoor fountains or bird baths
- Ponds
Eliminating as much standing water as you can will minimize mosquito activity and reduce the likelihood of mosquito bites.
These pests are also attracted to the carbon dioxide that humans exhale. As much as possible, avoid activities that may cause heavy breathing, such as running, around areas with a high mosquito population.
Similarly, they are attracted to body odor and sweat. Applying a mosquito repellent can help cover your scent and make you less appealing to them.
How to Deter Mosquitoes to Avoid Bites
Along with the prevention methods listed above, there are several ways to deter mosquitoes and limit your risk of being bitten. For example, wearing protective clothing can go a long way. Covering your skin with long sleeves, long pants and long socks will give mosquitoes much less access to you.
To deter mosquitoes from entering your home, install screens on your doors and windows. When it comes to mosquito repellent sprays, choose a product that contains DEET or picaridin. Apply the repellent whenever you spend time outdoors to avoid mosquito bites.
Take Care of Mosquitoes With Professional Treatment
The best way to minimize the risk of mosquito bites is to control the mosquito population on your property. However, taking care of the adult mosquitoes is not enough. The most effective way to deal with the problem is to target mosquitoes at every stage of their life cycle.
Working with a pest control specialist is the best way to ensure that you’re reducing mosquito populations on your property. If you’re concerned about mosquito bites, contact a pest control specialist.
Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch More at Night?
Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito and noticed that the bites itch more at night than they do during the day? There’s an interesting cause of this phenomenon, and it has to do with your body’s hormones and circadian rhythm.
When a mosquito bites you, foreign proteins in the pests’ saliva are injected into your skin. Your body has an inflammatory response to the bite, which can result in redness, swelling, itchiness and other typical mosquito bite symptoms.
Any time the body triggers an inflammatory response, the hormone cortisol is released. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone because it helps the body respond to stressful situations. In terms of a mosquito bite, cortisol helps relieve itchiness, redness and other symptoms.
However, cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day. We have the most cortisol in the morning when we wake up and the least at night before bedtime. With less cortisol fighting the inflammation of the mosquito bite, the bite will start to itch more at night.
If itchy mosquito bites are keeping you from falling asleep at night, try applying an anti-itch cream before you go to bed. The best solution, though, is to call in expert pest control specialists to target these pests.
Limit Mosquito Bites With Professional Pest Control Treatment
Mosquito bites can get in the way of your everyday life. While there are several remedies you can try to make the bites less bothersome, the best thing you can do is control the mosquito population on your property.
Working with a pest control specialist is the most effective way to control the mosquito problem at the source. An expert can control the population at every stage of the mosquito life cycle so that you don’t have to worry about itchy mosquito bites.
Everything to Know About the Anatomy of a Mosquito
As a homeowner, the more you understand about the pests on your property, the better you can minimize their impact. It’s helpful for all homeowners to learn about the anatomy of a mosquito.
Mosquito bodies are made up of three segments: the head, thorax and abdomen. The mosquito head is referred to as the command center because it controls the mosquito’s sensory and feeding functions.
Mosquitoes have small, spherical heads that attach directly to the thorax. Mosquito heads contain two large eyes and a pair of feathery antennae.
Although they have large eyes, mosquitoes have very poor vision. They use their antennas to find their prey and avoid predators. Mosquito antennae have sensory receptors attached to them, which is how these pests pick up on environmental cues like body odor, carbon dioxide and heat.
Next, the mosquito thorax connects the head and the abdomen. Mosquitoes have three pairs of legs and one pair of wings, and they all connect to the thorax.
Thanks to the thorax, mosquitoes are agile creatures. They are able to use their jointed legs to grip onto surfaces in order to land and rest between flights.
Mosquito Wings
The long and slender wings are covered in scales, and they allow mosquitoes to fly, hover and make rapid movements in order to avoid predators.
Lastly, the third section of the mosquito’s body is the abdomen. This is where mosquito reproduction takes place. The abdomen is an elongated section much larger than the thorax, and in most cases, it is segmented into several sections. It is also covered in scales and tapers off towards the end of the mosquito body.
The abdomen is home to many of the mosquito’s vital organs. It is where the mosquito digests food and eliminates waste.
For female mosquitoes, the abdomen is also where mosquito eggs are developed. After a female mosquito secures a blood meal, the abdomen is enlarged to make room for egg production.
Mosquitoes are fascinating creatures with an interesting anatomy. However, they are also disease carriers and should be avoided. Even when a mosquito species does not carry a disease, it can still inflict pain with its bites.
If you want to deal with the mosquito problem on your property, contact an expert pest control specialist today.
Control Mosquitoes With Professional Help
Mosquitoes are fascinating creatures; however, they make for annoying pests. If you want to reduce the risk of being bitten by one on your property, you need to deal with the mosquito population at every stage of their life cycle.
A professional pest control service can locate the places on your property where mosquitoes are reproducing and laying eggs. This is the most effective way to deal with a population, so do not hesitate to contact a pest control expert today.
ABC Can Reduce Mosquito Populations on Your Property
Don’t let pesky mosquitoes ruin your time outdoors. For a multi-tiered approach to mosquito control, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. We will create a pest treatment plan that best suits your yard and needs. They can also provide you with advice on mosquito prevention for your yard.
