From the Artic to the tropics, there are over 3,000 mosquito species in the world. Over 150 of these species are in Mexico and the United States, which means any one of them could be in your backyard.
Mosquitoes commonly carry a number of serious illnesses, such as West Nile Virus and Zika. In many cases, these diseases may be harmful or fatal to pets or people. Even if they do not carry disease, mosquitoes make it almost impossible for your family to enjoy the outdoors.
So, it’s important to control these flying pests. That control usually begins with understanding the type of mosquito that is bothering you.
Culex Fatigans (Southern Mosquito)
These pale, brown mosquitoes usually breed near standing water in birdbaths and pet dishes. Any amount of water, even a bottlecap or a Hot Wheels car, is enough for a female to lay up to 400 eggs. Culex Fatigans is one of the most dangerous kinds of mosquitoes. In addition to West Nile, southern mosquitoes often transmit St. Louis encephalitis.
These mosquitoes are active 24/7. They usually feed at night, especially when the moon is at least half full. Scientists are not exactly sure why that’s true.
Culex Pipiens (Northern Mosquitoes)
These insects are a lot like southern mosquitoes, except they are more common in the northern and western United States.
There are some other differences as well. For example, Culex Pipiens are usually daytime feeders, so they are not quite as active as southern mosquitoes. Also, northern mosquitoes usually do not carry as many diseases. The closer one gets to the tropics, including Florida and southern Alabama, the more dangerous mosquitoes become.
Aedes Albopictus (Asian Tiger Mosquitoes)
These mosquitoes have white or silver abdominal stripes. Additionally, Aedes Albopictus is one of the most aggressive types of mosquitoes. The males in particular often attack people and pets.
Asian Tiger mosquitoes carry many more diseases than Culex mosquitoes. In addition to encephalitis and West Nile, Asian Tigers transmit about thirty other viruses. Several of them are harmful to pets or people.
Aedes Albopictus females usually lay more eggs than Culex females, and Aedes Albopictus eggs also hatch faster. For these reasons, they spread quickly. In fact, since they appeared in Alabama in the 1980s, these mosquitoes have mostly crowded out yellow fever mosquitoes.
Aedes Ageypti (Yellow Fever Mosquitoes)
These mosquitoes contributed greatly to the Spanish Flu outbreak during and after World War I. In fact, Aedes Ageypti bites caused more military casualties during this period than the war itself.
In terms of breeding and feeding habits, Aedes Ageypti are very similar to their Asian Tiger cousins. However, since the early 2000s, Aedes Ageypti mosquitoes are mostly confined to coastal areas of Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. However, there have been sightings of these mosquitoes as far north as New York.
A+ Pest Control has the expertise and tools to help with mosquitoes control. Give us a call today!
