Mosquito Life Cycles In South Florida

The life cycle of the mosquito takes place in four distinct stages, from egg through to adulthood. About every third day during their lifespan, female mosquitoes lay eggs, usually in clumps of 100 to 300. Mosquito eggs are deposited either as “rafts” floating on the surface of standing water or on the ground in areas that regularly flood. These flying blood-suckers can lay eggs in as little as one inch of water. Mosquito eggs, generally white when laid, cannot hatch unless they are in water, usually for two to three days.

When the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge. They are called “wigglers” because that’s how they swim. Most of the time, they hang from the surface of the water, breathing through tubes. These mosquito wigglers feed on organic matter in the water, shed their skins four times over about a week, and develop into pupae. Larvae are the easiest to kill, using oils that block their breathing or bacteria that poison them.

Falling into the deepest part of the water when threatened by predators, the mosquito pupae are called “tumblers”. They are shaped like commas, partially encased in cocoons, with the head at one end and tiny flippers at the other. Breathing through tubes like the larvae, the pupae do not feed while developing. It takes about four days for the the adult mosquito to emerge.

The newly emerged adults climb out of the water to rest and wait for their bodies to dry out. Taking a day or two to fully develop their reproductive organs, the males then seek out a female, by the sound of her wingbeats, for mating. They’ll live about three to five days after that, feeding on fruit and plant nectar. The females mate once, but continue laying eggs after every blood meal. Under the best conditions, they can live up to a month or two.

Mosquitoes generally feed on plant nectar and fruit juice. Male mosquitoes do not take blood, so when you feel a mosquito plunge into your skin and start siphoning your blood, you can bet it is a female, every time. As a rule female mosquitoes start hunting as the sun goes down and will continue a few hours into the night, searching for any warm-blooded creature, such as people, dogs, cats, birds, and wildlife. Carbon dioxide – which we exhale – and lactic acid from our sweat combine to make us smell like a mosquito buffet. Mosquitoes can see us moving and feel our body heat and can pick up the scent from 100 feet.

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Including: Atlantis, Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Briny Breezes, Cloud Lake, Delray Beach, Glen Ridge, Greenacres, Gulf Stream, Haverhill, Highland Beach, Hypoluxo, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Jupiter Inlet Colony, Jupiter Island, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Park, Lake Worth, Lantana, Loxahatchee Groves, Manalapan, Mangonia Park, North Palm Beach, Ocean Ridge, Pahokee, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Shores, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Singer Island, South Bay, South Palm Beach, Tequesta, Village of Golf, Wellington, West Palm Beach and all other communities

Martin County: 772-546-0811

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Broward County: 954-968-1045

Note: ISA is the International Society of Consulting Arboriculture. ASCA is the American Society of Consulting Arborist.

RECOMMEND ZIMMERMAN TREE SERVICE

Zimmerman Tree Service provides insect treatment, mosquito and zika control including a mosquito yard misting treatment designed to reduce the mosquito population around the homeowner’s yard through a two phase attack. The first being an insecticide providing immediate and residual control of mosquitoes and the second is an insect growth regulator which interrupts the reproduction cycle of mosquitoes.

Are Mosquitoes Preventing You from Enjoying Your Yard?

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Our technicians are trained to provide superior service that results in a significant decline in mosquito populations. We use proven products to provide long-lasting mosquito control, which means we can make fewer visits to your home. With our service, your family can spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time worrying about the nuisance of mosquitoes.