Mosquito Fun Facts
Mosquitoes are vectors of life-threatening diseases throughout the world. Although we probably never will be able to be fully eradicate these pests from our planet, there are ways we can learn to deal with them. By using technology and good old-fashioned common sense, we can help keep them away from our families and pets and prevent their diseases from spreading further throughout this world. Let's take a closer look at some facts you may not know about these little pests! | | -
The mosquito can complete its life cycle from egg to adult within as little as 4 days, though most mosquitoes complete it within two weeks.
-
 After only two days as an adult, a female mosquito is able to bite its first victim. -
A mosquito’s wing beats up to 600 times per second.
-
West Nile Virus has not only been found in mosquitoes, birds, humans, and pets, it has also been found in alligators and elephants.
-
Mosquitoes also feed on some reptiles and amphibians, including snakes, frogs and toads.
-
Estimates for the number of mosquito species in the entire world range from 2500 to 3000.
-
Most male mosquitoes only live for two weeks. Female mosquitoes often live up to a month or more, but they can certainly cause a lot of problems during that short time!
-
Some female mosquito species will lay their eggs in a little bit of water – like the ruts of a tire track, a small hole in a tree, a small flowerpot, or even an old coffee cup.
-
 Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar for nourishment. The female mosquito only bites people or animals to obtain the blood’s protein so her eggs can develop. -
Female mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at one time.
-
Not all mosquitoes come out at dusk; the Asian Tiger Mosquito is known to bite mostly between the hours of 10am and 3pm.
-
Some types of female mosquitoes go into hibernation for the winter. Some larvae spend the winter in the mud of swamps.
-
Some mosquito species’ larvae will eat other mosquito larvae.
-
Some mosquitoes have accidentally been introduced into the United States – the Asian Tiger Mosquito was imported in 1985 in some old tires that were shipped to the U.S. for recycling.
-
A mosquito can infect a person with West Nile Virus but the person may never know it – not all people end up with symptoms.
-
Antibiotics do not work on mosquito-borne diseases because they are viruses. Antibiotics do not fight viruses.
-
Mosquito-borne diseases kill more people worldwide than any other factor.
-
In one way or another, mosquitoes’ lives revolve around water sources. All mosquitoes require water in its egg, larval, and pupal stage for maturation, and as an adult, the female lays her eggs in the water.
-
The airline industry sprays its airplanes to eliminate any mosquitoes that hitched a ride on the planes, especially those coming from countries with outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
Mosquitoes do not have very good vision. They rely on the carbon dioxide you exhale in order to locate you.
-
Mosquitoes usually do not bite when the temperature is less than 50°F.
-
Most mosquitoes remain near their breeding habitat as adults, although some are known to travel over 20 miles to find their “victims.”
-
No wonder we don’t feel them when they land on our arm -- an adult female mosquito weighs just 1/15,000 ounce or about 2.0 milligrams.
 Protect your family, pets and guests from disease-carrying mosquitoes
with a Mosquito Magnet® trap - the leading long-term,
scientifically proven mosquito control solution | |
|
