There’s nothing fun about mosquitoes. They are a nuisance at the very least, and carriers of deadly diseases at worst. Did you know that the word, “mosquito,” is Spanish for “little fly?” What are some other mosquito fun facts?
Across the globe, there are more than 3,500 known mosquito species. Compared to the number of species found in Central Mass, that number is almost unbelievable! Massachusetts is known to host more than 50 species of mosquitoes. West Virginia has the least mosquito species at about 25. Texas…oh, poor Texas has 85 mosquito species!
Yellow Fever Mosquito
Did you know that we have a year-round mosquito in Central Mass?
If you have been sleeping and awake with what appears to be a mosquito bite, even out of “mosquito season,” you have probably been bitten by the Culex pipiens mosquito. This mosquito is not just a year-round pest, it’s a carrier of West Nile Virus!
Culex pipiens mosquito
Did you know that mosquitoes hibernate?
Mosquitoes can hibernate, even in Central Mass.
This is a key point for Central Mass, since we have such cold winters. Many folks believe that mosquitoes die off in winter, but that is not always true. Mosquitoes will burrow in the ground and lie dormant in temperatures less than 45 degrees. They lay their eggs in water, and those eggs will keep even if the water freezes. When warmer temperatures thaw the water, the eggs will hatch. Those mosquitoes, who lay their eggs, will then die. In addition, our winters are not as cold as they used to be, so more mosquitoes than ever are surviving the cold season. Here are a few more mosquito fun facts.
Mosquitoes lay hundreds of eggs at a time.
That might sound like a lot, but by comparison, ticks can lay up to 5,000 or 6,000 eggs at once! In warm temperatures, mosquito eggs incubate in water for 10 days before emerging into larvae. Those eggs can hatch from only one inch of water. That’s why it’s important to get rid of items with standing water around your Central Mass home. It only takes a small amount of water to create a mosquito hatchery!
Pour out any standing water around your Central Mass home.
Male mosquitoes listen closely to find their perfect mate.
Female mosquitoes’ wings beat much faster than male mosquitoes. When a male mosquito is searching for a mate, he is actually listening for a mate. The higher frequency sound produced by the female mosquito’s wings alerts the male mosquito, and lures him in for mating.
Speaking of mosquito wings, mosquitoes are slow flyers.
Most mosquitoes cannot fly fast, and don’t leave the confines of the area, where they hatched. Some mosquito species can go farther – many miles, in fact. On average, mosquitoes fly about 1.5 mph. By comparison, the American cockroach is said to travel about 3.5 mph and a tiger moth caterpillar was clocked at about 3 mph.
Protect your family with professional Central MA mosquito control.
Dave Macchia, Central Mass Mosquito Control Expert
As always, I recommend the best protection for your home and family in Central Mass, with mosquito barrier protection. With mosquito-borne illnesses, like Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Zika virus, West Nile virus, and even heartwom disease in dogs and cats, mosquito protection is essential for your whole family.