If you want to control mosquito populations, understanding how they live and breed is essential. These pesky insects go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Each stage offers a different opportunity to disrupt the cycle, which is why professional mosquito control treatments from experts who understand how to break the cycle are so important. Let’s take a closer look at the life cycle of a mosquito and how an effective mosquito control plan can help you have a swat-free summer.
As with all living things, water is key for the mosquito life cycle. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water – even something as small as a bottle cap can make an excellent mosquito nursery. Within 24 to 48 hours of being laid, the eggs will hatch into larvae that wiggle around and feed on organic matter in the water. After a few days, they will transform into pupae. This is a resting stage, and they don’t feed – instead, they are preparing for their emergence into adulthood.
The entire cycle can take as little as a week in the ideal conditions, so an unchecked mosquito population can expand rapidly. Effective mosquito control will target multiple stages of the cycle. Here’s how.
- Eliminate Standing Water. If the mosquitoes have no place to lay eggs, you’re off to a good start. We can help check for things like empty flower pots, clogged gutters, and other hidden spots where water collects and stays stagnant.
- Larvicides. We can treat water that can’t be drained – such as ponds or ditches – with larvicide that kills them before they grow into adults.
- Barrier Sprays. This type of treatment targets adults who may be hiding in shaded areas like shrubs, tall grasses, or under the deck. This stage of mosquito control helps reduce the number of adults looking to lay eggs or find their next meal.
Ready to break the cycle? Reach out today to get started with customized mosquito control treatments.
