Mosquito Breeding Season

It’s that time of year for the Gulf Coast of Florida! Along with hurricane season and our daily dose of afternoon showers, summer is when mosquito breeding is out of control. 

It makes sense when you know how the mosquito gestation process works. Momma mosquitoes get pregnant. They bite a mammal - us or our pets - to get blood proteins for their brood. They lay their eggs in standing, stagnant water - a puddle, drainage swale or the birdbath pictured above. Then the standing water dries up. 

When new water is added, the mosquito eggs hatch within 72 hours or less. The larvae wriggle around in the water for 7-10 days. Pupae emerge and hang out on the surface for just a couple days before launching into the air as adult mosquitoes - and the cycle starts all over again.

A Subtropical Paradise

A Florida summer is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Rain in the afternoon, dry 15 minutes later, wet again when the rains return the next day. We don’t notice the 2 weeks between hatchings because every day is a new hatching. Oh, and if it doesn’t rain? Some species of mosquitoes can wait in egg form for years before hatching. 

Within 28 hours of becoming an adult, mosquitoes can breed. So much for puberty. Once a female has mated, she can lay eggs for the rest of her life. The first time a mosquito reproduces, she can produce between 50 and 500 eggs. Each subsequent brood is smaller, but in just one month of life, that female can lay eggs 8-9 more times. 

For the record, male mosquitoes only get to live for a couple of weeks and don’t feed on blood. They enjoy plant nectar and are actually the second most important pollinators after bees.

More Standing Water

By the way, most homes across the Sunshine State provide more than one place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Besides the obvious locations, keep an eye out for standing water in buckets, jars, trash can lids, gutters and drain pipes. 

For those still cleaning up after the numerous storms we’ve seen in recent years, check loose tarps - or even tight ones - drain areas around your air conditioning unit, boats and canoes, old machinery or appliances, whether in the yard or garage. Even wood piles can provide little pooling areas. Same with old tires, hubcaps, and wheelbarrows.  

Some less likely areas to keep an eye on, especially if you don’t use them often - your pool, hot tubs and open air saunas, fish ponds, pet water bowls, and flower pots. Really, any space that can collect enough stagnant water is at risk.

Dress for the Occasion

Yes, we know that the height of our summer heat is not when you want to be wearing pants and long sleeves. But that’s one of the best defenses against getting bitten by a mosquito. Usually. In recent years, there has been evidence that some mosquitoes can bite through clothing, but it's rare. 

Light colored, loose-fitting clothing also helps. Mosquitoes aren’t drawn to bright colors like bees or butterflies. Rather, mosquitoes have specialized smell receptors on their antennae that track the carbon dioxide we and our animals breathe out. They also tend to like sweet blood - if you’re drinking a lot of soda or beer, you’ll likely attract a few biters. 

While mosquitoes may seem more of an itchy nuisance than anything else, remember they also can carry diseases like Zika virus, dengue fever, malaria and West Nile virus, among others. That’s why so many communities spray at night and early morning to try and control mosquitoes. 

There is an easier way to handle mosquitoes in your backyard. Our exclusive No Bite Zones Mosquito Protection Program is easy to install, can be purchased online and dropped off during your normal service, and actually turns those momma mosquitoes and their eggs into vegans. For more details or to schedule your delivery, please give us a call!