MOSQUITOS: (Order Diptera)

Description:
Mosquitoes can be identified easily by their long legs and piercing proboscis (blood-sucking mouth part). Southern California mosquitoes range in size from 1/4 to 1 inch in length. Mosquito larvae can be found in standing water and quickly emerge as biting adults. There are over 150 species of mosquitoes in the U.S. with 9 being common in Southern California.

Biology:
Mosquitoes breed in calm water habitats like marshes, standing water, rain pools, flood water, and irrigation puddles. Mosquito bites can be more than just a nuisance as some carry diseases like West Nile Virus (WNV) making them potentially dangerous to your health. West Nile is a virus mainly transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito who are infected themselves from feeding on the blood of infected birds. West Nile Virus can cause severe illness, resulting in hospitalization and even death.

Did You Know?

Female mosquitoes are the only ones that bite, and they only do so for reproduction. They drink nectar for nutrition but need blood for reproduction. A mosquito takes about 5 millionths of a liter of blood when feeding.

Impact:
Mosquitoes can pose a serious infection risk to humans but even a simple bite can cause irritation and itching to the victim. They can also transmit serious diseases like West Nile Virus making them a hazard not just a nuisance.

Solutions:

Removing all standing water near the property is the key to eradicating mosquitoes. Buckets, leaking sprinkler systems, pots, and other containers of standing water are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes and must be removed. While it may not always be feasible to eliminate every source of standing water, particularly near marshy areas, we highly recommend seeking the assistance of a pest control professional for comprehensive, long-term mosquito control and elimination.

Additional Links:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/mosquitoes.html