Do you know that the females of the mosquito species are the ones that suck blood from people and animals? Well, you can’t really tell the females just by looking at the mosquitoes hovering above your head, so it’s generally a good idea to avoid them altogether.
The world has over two thousand five hundred mosquito species. The United States and Canada are home to about two hundred of these. Among the two hundred mosquito species, forty-three are carriers of the West Nile Virus, which include: Culex Pipiens, Culex Quinquefasciatus, Culex Restuans, Aedes Albopictus, and Aedes Vexans.
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Mosquitoes are generally greatly-feared insects. They are the cause of over two million deaths in humans every year. The different mosquito species are carriers of varied diseases. They feed and breed at varying times of the day as well. The three most common mosquito species in the U.S. are the Aedes Albopictus, Culex Pipiens, and the Anopheles Quadrimaculatus. The first two are West Nile Virus carriers, while the third one is the main cause of malaria.
Regardless of the mosquito species, the blood that the females suck is necessary to produce eggs. And I am not talking about a single or two eggs at a time. The female mosquitoes can produce up to 250 eggs. One common trait of all mosquito species is their affinity for laying their eggs in any natural or man-made pool of water. They all go through a four-stage life cycle namely egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Eggs are hatched within 48 hours. However, the larvae enjoy its breeding ground from seven to fourteen days and feed on the microorganisms present in the water. The pupa stage does not differ much from the previous stage except that it does not feed anymore. An adult mosquito develops after one to four days from the pupa cycle and will stay on the water’s surface until it is dry enough to fly.
Types of mosquitoes in Houston, Texas
Aedes Aegyptii
Commonly known as- Yellow fever mosquito.Active- They are usually active during dusk and dawn, in shady areas and when the weather is mainly cloudy. They are active around the year.
Habitat- Stagnant water, tires which are discarded, flower vases, toilet tanks, uncovered barrels.
Aedes Albopictus
Commonly known as- Asian Tiger Mosquito.Active- They are active during the daytime. They are also active around the year. Their longevity is three weeks.
Habitat- It breeds in areas like plants, tree holes and other containers which are moist and carry standing water.
Anopheles Quadrimaculatus
Commonly known as- Common malaria mosquitoActive- It is highly active during dusk and just right before dawn. It is also active through the whole night.
Habitat- growing water vegetation leaves, roots which are floating, rooted water flora, freshwater swamps, floral edges of water reservoirs, ponds and lakes.
Culex Pipiens
Commonly known as- Common house mosquito/northern house mosquitoActive- It is mainly active during night time.
Habitat- Waste water spots, old tires, bird baths
Is anyone more prone to mosquito bites than others? Actually, carbon dioxide that is exhaled from as far as 100-150 feet away can attract the female mosquitoes. And since all of us breathe, we are all targets for this blood-sucking animals. However, it was found out that there are scents that make some people more attractive to mosquitoes. These scents include perfumes and sweat. You might wonder where the males get their food if they abhor blood. The males prefer to extract plant juices rather than feed on the blood of animals and humans.
Not all mosquito species are disease-carrying. Some are basically just out to get a taste of your blood. Even if that sounded less dangerous than getting diseases like the West Nile Virus or the Dengue Fever, all mosquito species are still nuisances – males included.