Are you dreading the thought of dealing with mosquitoes and their bites when it gets warm out? Colder weather keeps these pests at bay. But once it warms up here in the Greater Cincinnati area, mosquitoes emerge from their winter hiding places and start working on building their populations.
Some are only nuisances, leaving you with itchy bites. But others spread diseases that can be serious. How can you keep yourself and your home safe from these pests? The following guide helps you learn about mosquitoes, including how to identify different types, what attracts them — and why getting professional mosquito control is important!
What Are Mosquitoes?
These bugs belong to the True Flies order known as Diptera, making them related to houseflies, horseflies, and similar flying insects. But unlike many other flies, mosquitoes are known for feeding on blood from animals and people. Females need proteins in blood to produce eggs.
Where Do Mosquitoes Live?
These pests live all over the U.S.! In fact, more than 200 types are found throughout our country and U.S. territories. You can also find them in many other areas around the globe, especially in warmer climates. What kinds of environments do they like? They’re common in areas where there’s stagnant water or non-flowing bodies of water, including the following:
- Ponds
- Lakes
- Marsh and swamp plants
- Outdoor potted plants, bird baths, and other containers that have water
- Floodwaters
What makes water so important for these insects? That’s where many lay their eggs. Once they hatch, larvae and pupae grow and develop in water.
Common Mosquito Species in the U.S.
As mentioned before, we have hundreds of species here in the U.S. We won’t go over each one. But we’ll explore some of the more common types that are around.
Nuisance Mosquitoes
Did you know that most species aren’t harmful? They’re known more for being nuisances thanks to their bites. But they don’t transmit any germs or diseases when they feed on blood. They can become a big problem for homeowners after flooding or lots of rain, since their populations can rapidly increase in these conditions.
Disease-spreading Mosquitoes
These are the species you need to be aware of. These mosquitoes are known to carry and spread certain kinds of diseases — with some potentially causing serious health issues. We’ll go over mosquito-borne diseases in greater detail later on. For now, these are some of the species that transmit illnesses:
- Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito)
- Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito)
- Culex pipiens (northern house mosquito)
- Culex quinquefasciatus (Southern house mosquito)
- Culex tarsalis (western encephalitis mosquito)
- Anopheles quadrimaculatus (common malaria mosquito)
The Life Cycle of a Mosquito
How do these bugs spend their days? That varies a bit by species.
Aedes
Female mosquitoes of this species lay eggs on the walls of objects or containers that have water. Depending on conditions, the eggs hatch within days or months. After hatching, it takes around a week for larvae to develop into adult Aedes mosquitoes. Note that these eggs last for several months if they dry out.
Anopheles
Unlike Aedes mosquitoes, females of this species lay their eggs on the water surface rather than on the sides of water-filled containers. They’re usually found living near shallow waters, like marshes, streams, and creeks. These eggs won’t survive if they dry out, but Anopheles mosquitoes can lay up to 200 at a time! It takes about 10 to 14 days for these mosquitoes to develop from larvae to adults.
Culex
This species also lays eggs on the water’s surface. These eggs —numbering up to 300 at a time — form a raft that floats on the surface. Females lay their eggs in many sources of standing or fresh water, from puddles and pools to marshes and ditches. After hatching, larvae grow into adults in up to 10 days.
How to Identify Different Mosquitoes
How do you know which type you’re dealing with in your yard or which species bit you? With so many types of mosquitoes around, this can be hard to do. However, you can generally tell which species a mosquito is based on certain physical characteristics and other factors.
Aedes Identification
- Pointed or tapered abdomen
- Distinctive striped markings on some
- Aggressive behavior
- Active during the day and at dawn and dusk
Culex Identification
- Rounded abdomen
- Black or dark brown coloring
- Large proboscis for biting
- Active at dusk and dawn
Anopheles Identification
- Long, thin legs
- Brown coloring and spotted markings on wings
- Humpbacked shape
- Active at dusk and dawn
Mosquitoes vs. Crane Flies
Are the bugs you’re seeing really mosquitoes? Crane flies — harmless bugs that don’t bite — are often mistaken for mosquitoes. A few differences between them include:
- Mosquitoes have a piercing mouthpiece, but crane flies don’t
- Crane flies have a straight body shape, while mosquitoes tend to be humpbacked
- Mosquito coloring can vary, while crane flies are tan
- Crane flies are bigger than mosquitoes
Why Are They Considered Pests?
No one really likes having mosquitoes around. These bugs can make it hard to enjoy spending time outside in spring, summer, and fall. If you’re not careful, you can end up with several unpleasant bites. Pets can also be bitten when they’re outdoors in warmer weather.
But itchy bites aren’t the only reason mosquitoes are considered pests. They’re also able to reproduce at high rates, laying hundreds of eggs at once. And their larvae don’t take long to become adults — fueling even higher mosquito populations. Having so many around can make it tough to eliminate infestations.
While most of these bugs aren’t harmful to us, some do spread diseases. This ability to transmit illnesses to people and animals also makes some types of mosquitoes a pest. Some of the diseases they carry can cause severe health problems or chronic issues, making these bugs a danger to you and your loved ones.
Which Mosquitoes Are the Most Dangerous?
The species that spread diseases are considered a serious danger to humans and animals. That includes the yellow fever mosquito, Asian tiger mosquito, common malaria mosquito, Culex species that spread West Nile virus, and other Aedes and Anopheles types.
Most mosquitoes don’t carry diseases. But it can be hard to know which species or type bites you, so avoiding these bugs as much as possible is important. In Ohio, Asian tiger mosquitoes, northern house mosquitoes, and eastern tree hole mosquitoes are just a few of the disease-carrying types that are around.
What Attracts Mosquitoes to Your Yard?
Knowing why these pests come around can help you take steps to keep them away. These biting bugs mainly look for any kind of standing water in yards, such as:
- Pet water bowls
- Bird baths
- Ponds
- Surfaces that collect water, such as tarps and pool covers
- Tires, barrels, and other containers that hold water
- Clogged downspouts and gutters
What if you have a pool? As long as you maintain it and keep the filter going, mosquitoes usually don’t lay eggs in pool water.
These blood-sucking insects are also drawn to tall grass and debris, such as piles of leaves or twigs.
When Are Mosquitoes Most Active?
You might think they’re only busy when it’s dark out. But that’s not quite true. Many mosquitoes aren’t actually active throughout the night. Instead, females of some species go in search of blood during dusk and dawn. Others are more active during the day — so don’t let your guard down!
Day Species
Ever been bitten during the day? That’s most likely an Aedes mosquito, like the Asian tiger mosquito. This species is active in daylight and at dawn and dusk. That means you’ll need to protect yourself from these bugs when you’re outside during any part of the day — especially since they carry disease.
Night Species
When you’re swatting bugs away while sitting outside in the evening, that’s most likely an Anopheles or Culex mosquito. These types of mosquitoes are active around dusk and dawn rather than during the day. Or you could be dealing with one of the many harmless types of mosquitoes that are busy at these times.
Diseases Spread by Mosquitoes
Mosquito-borne diseases can affect people, pets, and wildlife. Some species of mosquitoes in local areas are disease carriers. But you can also catch these sicknesses if you travel to other parts of the world.
For example, local mosquitoes in Ohio aren’t likely to carry malaria, dengue, or yellow fever. But visiting areas that do have these disease-carrying species can put you at risk of catching these diseases and bringing them back to our area.
Let’s take a closer look at some illnesses that mosquitoes can transmit to humans and/or animals.
West Nile Virus
This viral illness can cause mild symptoms — or even no symptoms. But in some cases, people with this sickness can become seriously ill. Northern house mosquitoes are major carriers of the West Nile virus.
Zika Virus
This disease might not cause any symptoms. But, the Zika virus can cause birth defects when pregnant women catch this illness. The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is the main culprit for spreading this disease. Note that it’s not a local species in Ohio, but you may encounter it while traveling in parts of the southern U.S. or tropical areas.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
This disease isn’t common. However, people who get it can develop severe symptoms, including chronic neurological issues. Culex, Aedes, and other species are known to carry this potentially serious disease.
St. Louis Encephalitis
This illness doesn’t always cause any noticeable symptoms. But it can cause vomiting, headaches, and other symptoms in some cases. In rare cases, it can make you dangerously ill. Infected Culex mosquitoes are the main species that spread this disease.
La Crosse Encephalitis
This mosquito borne disease may not cause symptoms. But it can turn into a serious illness, especially in children, causing seizures and even paralysis. The Eastern tree hole mosquito is known for carrying this disease.
Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases
These biting bugs can transmit other illnesses that aren’t usually found locally. These tropical diseases that different species cause include:
- Malaria
- Dengue
- Chikungunya
- Yellow fever
How Mosquito Bites Affect Humans and Pets
Adult females need a blood meal to produce eggs — and that can come from people or animals. Some species prefer feeding on animals. Others prefer to get blood from humans. When they bite, they don’t just feed on blood. They also secrete saliva that the immune system thinks is dangerous, triggering an immune response.
Mosquito bites from any species can itch and swell up. Some people and pets might have a more severe reaction to these bites. Or they can become incredibly uncomfortable if you end up with multiple bites.
And don’t forget that these bugs also put humans and pets at risk of illness. Depending on the type that bites, you may end up with West Nile virus or another disease.
What to Do About Mosquito Bites
Even if you try to protect yourself, you might end up with a mosquito bite or two. If you do get bitten, putting a cold compress or ice pack on it can help stop swelling and itching. You can also put calamine lotion or another anti-itch cream on it. OTC medicines, like antihistamines, might also help ease itchy bites.
What you shouldn’t do is scratch at them — no matter how much they itch! Doing this can cause the bites to become infected.
How Can You Avoid Mosquito Bites?
Only female mosquitoes bite — male mosquitoes don’t. But that doesn’t make it any easier to protect yourself from being bitten. Tons of females can be around at once, putting you at risk of being covered in bites. You can avoid this with the following tips:
- Wear a jacket, sweater, or long-sleeved shirt and pants outside to reduce exposed skin
- Put a mosquito repellant on before heading outdoors
- Run a fan near you to keep these bugs away
- Burn citronella candles or similar products to deter these insects
Why Some People Get Bitten More Than Others
Do mosquitoes seem to seek you out while leaving other family members alone? Or are you the lucky one who doesn’t get bit much — or at all? These bugs tend to be drawn to certain people more than others. But why does this happen?
Scientists believe this might have something to do with bodily scents. Mosquitoes are attracted to some people’s natural scents. A couple of other factors might also draw these bugs to some people for feeding, like type O blood.
The way people breathe might also play a role, thanks to carbon dioxide. If you’ve been running or playing sports, your breathing may be heavier, causing you to emit more carbon dioxide — and attract mosquitoes!
How Can You Prevent Mosquitoes in Your Yard?
You can do a lot to stop these pests from taking over your yard and ruining your summer. But it does take a lot of time and effort to really keep them at bay on your own. To deter or prevent mosquitoes in your yard, do the following:
- Fill your garden or other areas with plants that repel mosquitoes, like lemon balm or marigolds
- Dump out bowls, barrels, and any other containers in your yard that can hold water
- Put airtight containers on rain barrels to prevent mosquito eggs
- Keep your lawn mowed so tall grass doesn’t grow
- Clean up twigs and other debris
- Replace or fix up screens on doors and windows to keep these pests out of your home
- Maintain your swimming pool and cover it when it’s not in use
Remember that you’ll need to do these tasks regularly. Otherwise, your yard can easily become a welcoming place for these biting insects.
The Importance of Pest Control Services
There’s only so much DIY you can do to control mosquitoes. Should you use store-bought sprays or insecticides for these bugs? Those really aren’t the best choices for protecting your home and yard from these pests. They may not be effective — and some can be hazardous if you don’t use them correctly.
Professional pest control gives you a reliable way to stop mosquitoes from invading your property. Or, if they’re already a problem, professionals can provide services that eliminate them and keep them away. That gives you peace of mind that you and your family are safe from West Nile and other viruses, along with annoying bites!
How Professional Mosquito Control Works
What can you expect when pest control experts come to your home? Our technicians at ScherZinger Pest Control provide services that stop mosquitoes from being able to build up a large population in your yard.
Our ScherZinger Mosquito Mitigation Program includes:
- Assessing your yard for areas where these pests are most likely to be, such as areas with standing water
- Treating your property to prevent mosquitoes
- Coming back to your property every month for retreating from April to September
Our services for mosquitoes focus on the warmest part of the year. This is when you have the highest risk of having these pests invade and reproduce.
Schedule Professional Mosquito Control for Your Ohio Home!
Are you looking for ways to prevent these harmful or nuisance pests from hanging around your yard? Our experts at ScherZinger can help! We’ve been trusted pest control experts in Columbus, Dayton, and Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area for 90+ years. Our team has the right equipment and techniques to reduce your risk of having a mosquito problem so you can avoid bites — and fully enjoy your yard all summer long!
