The Dirt on Mosquitos

Mosquitoes are small, annoying, and leave itchy bites all over your arms and legs. While this is a fair description of the mosquito, some interesting facts about the mosquito may surprise you. It’s time for you get acquainted with the buzzing pest that ruins your summertime activities.

A mosquito only weighs 1/25,000 of an ounce.

Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other living creature.

Mosquitoes pose a threat to public health, spreading everything from West Nile virus, encephalitis, dengue fever, malaria, and even heartworms in pets.

Citronella candles and smoking coils repel mosquitoes, but you have to stay in the smoky plume to be protected.

West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, and can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal disease.

There are over 2,500 species of mosquitoes scattered throughout the world.

One female mosquito may lay 100 to 300 eggs at a time and may average 1,000 to 3,000 offsprings during her life span.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so eliminating standing water on your property reduces your risk.

The average life span of a female mosquito is 3 to 100 days and the male lives an average of 10 to 20 days.

Only female mosquitoes bite—they need the protein for their eggs.

Male mosquitoes survive by sucking on nectar and other plant juices.

The welt that appears after a mosquito bites is an allergic reaction to the saliva that is injected into your skin to prevent your blood from clotting.

From 100 feet away (30 meters) mosquitoes can smell your scent, especially the carbon dioxide (CO2) you exhale.

Mosquitoes rarely travel farther than 300 feet from their birthplace.

Light colors are less attractive to mosquitoes than dark colors; thus, mosquitoes are more likely to choose a victim wearing darker colors.

Mosquitoes are found all over the world, even in cold places like the Arctic.

Mosquitoes prefer dark places like trees, grass and shrubs.

A mosquito develops from egg to adulthood in 4 to 7 days.

Like humans, mosquitoes have food preferences—not all mosquito species bite humans, some prefer birds, horses, frogs or turtles.