10 facts we did not know about mosquitoes

There are many facts around mosquitoes besides knowing that they are carriers of dengue and that they cause itchy mosquito bites. However, there are several misconceptions around mozzies and pest myths around getting rid of mosquitoes. Rentokil shares more of these facts and effective ways to eliminate them.

Table of Content

Part 1: Ten facts we did not know about mosquitoes

• Mosquitoes find their target using receptors
• They rest and sleep during the day
• Use series of needles to bite and suck blood
• Mozzies weigh just 2.5 milligrams and dislike wind
• Utilises three senses combination for navigation
• Mosquitoes causes more diseases besides dengue fever
• They generally have long life span and live up to two months
• Slow flying speed of average one and half miles per hour
• Water is an essential survival element for mosquitoes
• Mosquitoes breathe through tubes or siphon

Part 2: Mosquito control treatments that do not work

• Using a fan to blow directly at mosquitoes to chase them away
• Using apple cider vinegar to eliminate mosquitoes
• Sprinkle coffee ground on stagnant water to remove mosquito breeding
• Spray garlic solution around the home to repel mozzies
• Repel mosquitoes with citronella oil or candle
• Using bleach to reduce mosquitoes population
• Buying insect sprays and target at flying mozzies around

Part 3: Get rid of mosquitoes with pest control

• Eliminate any mosquito breeding sources and receptacles
• Maintain diligent housekeeping and landscaping
• Engage professional pest control services to control mosquitoes
• Install or place mosquito traps at key risk areas
• Apply proofing and protection against mosquito entries

Part 4: Frequently Asked Questions about mosquito pest control

• Why are we prone to being target by mosquitoes?
• How did we not notice that we have mosquito bites?
• Why mosquito control seems to be ineffective?
• What do we need to know about dengue clusters in Singapore?
• When are mozzies active in biting? In the day or night?
• What are the causes of mosquito infestation in my home?

Part 1: Ten facts we did not know about mosquitoes

Mosquitoes find their target using receptors

Mozzie have receptors found on their antennae that they use to find their target or host like you. This can pick up carbon dioxide when we exhale and thus, thus identifying and establishing our presence. You might be wondering how they could track us so efficiently, is due to the carbon dioxide trails they follow. Mosquitoes are attracted to body heat and warm as well, and they use the sensors around the mouth to detect. Hence, it helps to keep your body temperature and environment cool.

They rest and sleep during the day

Mosquitoes are active during dusk and dawn and for the rest of the time, they will rest or sleep in a shady and sheltered environment. Particularly at greenery spaces such as bushes, trees, shrubs, and weeds. However, it also depends on the mosquito species that differ in their sleeping patterns. Aedes Mosquitoes, which we are aware of, that they cause dengue fever symptoms, are active in the morning. One mosquito prevention tip we recommend is to use a repellent, wear light colouring attire and in long sleeves to prevent being bitten by the Aedes mosquitoes. It is essential to understand what attracts mosquitoes to avoid mosquito bites opportunities.

Use series of needles to bite and suck blood

How is it possible for a mosquito to seek our blood meal for their development and growing purposes? Their proboscis consists of six thin stylets that resemble a spear or needle. It is able to pierce into the skin efficiently, locating the vessels and then suck our blood for food. During this process, there is a possible transmission of viruses such as the Dengue and Zika. However, only the female species bite for blood and male mosquitoes will feed on nectar from the flowers.

Mozzies weighs just 2.5 milligrams and dislike wind

Do you know mosquitoes are light and only weigh 2.5 milligrams? To compare against other pests, a house mouse is around 12 to 30 grams and a pupae houseflies weigh approximately 8 to 20 milligrams. This is why there are myths around repelling mozzies with a fan since they are reasonably light and are inefficient in flying. Their wings produce lesser motion range as those of butterflies, thus they might get blown away from the strong wind as a result.

Utilises three senses combination for navigation

While mosquitoes may be light and not equipped with good flying skills, they have incredible senses to navigate. Firstly, mosquitoes have two pairs of eyes that contain hundreds to thousands of lenses. This means they have an amazing vision of their surroundings in many directions at one time. Secondly, they leverage on olfactory (sense of smell) to find their hosts by detecting the carbon dioxide released from humans. Thirdly, they also utilise the thermal sensor to detect the heat we emit, especially when we are engaged in activities such as exercises or sports.

Mosquitoes cause more diseases besides dengue fever

Dengue cases in Singapore is one disease we are all aware and afraid of, but they cause more diseases besides this. For example, Aedes mosquitoes are also carriers of Zika and Chikungunya and yellow fever. Culex mosquitoes on the other hand breed in polluted water and transmit parasite and bacterial diseases. Finally, the Anopheles mosquito that breeds in fresh and clean water such as collected rain and spreads the Malaria. Start to identify which mosquito species type is infesting in your home.

They generally have long life span and live up to two months

Most mosquitoes can live up to six months life expectancy, however for female mosquitos; they will live for 3 weeks after they bite a host for blood. However, their reproduction is speedy with eggs hatching into larvae within 24 to 48 hours. In a short span of seven to ten days, these larvae will enter into the pupae stage. All in all, another two days to develop into a full adult mosquito. This quick turnaround process takes a total of eight to ten days or a maximum of up to twelve weeks to complete the life cycle. With the number of eggs, that mosquito can lay off 100 at a time; mosquito infestation can turn serious quickly and in large volumes.

Slow flying speed of average one and half miles per hour

Some pests such as cockroaches have speedy capabilities of running 1.5 meters per second whereas mosquitoes flying speed is around one and a half miles per hour. In fact, they do not travel a lot and far, usually around two to three miles, and for some species, they are capable of traveling seven miles from their breeding sites. However, their slow traveling speed does not mean they are unable to reach heights. Generally, they maintain a height range of up to 7 meters, and possible in reaching you in your apartment as high as 20 stories.

Read also: Is low floor unit more prone to pests?

Water is an essential survival element for mosquitoes

Most mosquitoes lay their eggs in water other than Aedes mosquitoes that lay on the surface instead. Water becomes an essential part of the mosquitoes life cycle where larvae live on the water surface and breathe through their siphon. Unless they are provoked, they will hide below the water from predators. The Pupae requires more water needs by living in the water before floating to the surface for oxygen supply. Finally, how all mosquito infestation starts in the presence of a small volume of stagnant water for them to breed. In summary, it is important to eliminate the presence of water and moisture to prevent a pest infestation.

Mosquitoes breathe through tubes or siphon

Similarly, to pests such as cockroaches and ants that made use of tubes and spiracles to breathe underwater, Mosquitoes use the siphon organ to breathe. It is a breathing tube within the respiratory system to help such pests in living in the water. Hence, it is not quite possible to drown a mosquito practically, as they will fly off from the water source eventually.

Part 2: Mosquito control treatments that do not work

Using a fan to blow directly at mosquitoes to chase them away

Weighing at only 2.5 milligrams with poor flying skills where wings generate lesser motions, they get blown away easily by the moving wind coming from the fan. The wind also distorts and disrupts the carbon dioxide they are attracted. However, they will return once the air movement has stop and with their strong tracking capabilities, mosquitoes can trace and detect their host for food source easily. They are able to do so with their three senses abilities – vision, smell and heat. So if you think is easy to repel mosquitoes, these capable facts of mozzies should help in debugging this pest myth.

Using apple cider vinegar to eliminate mosquitoes

Most natural ingredients that are widely used to deter pests are because of its strong, pungent and zesty smell that pests dislike. Same for apple cider vinegar that said to help eliminate mosquitoes by destroying the larvae. This is done by adding a substantial amount of the vinegar to the stagnant water they are breeding. However, there are no evidential studies to illustrate efficacy of mosquito breeding elimination. Proper mosquito control is recommended to deal with mosquito problems effectively.

Sprinkle coffee ground on stagnant water to remove mosquito breeding

Another method to eliminate mosquito-breeding sites is by spreading coffee grounds in it. Due to its strong and repelling smell, sprinkling coffee ground inhibits the eggs from developing into larvae, and ends the process of a complete mosquito life cycle. It targets by depriving them of oxygen and will not survive as a result. A better suggestion is to remove any possible receptacles and deal with elimination of breeding sites more effectively and efficiently.

Spray garlic solution around the home to repel mozzies

It is not just pests that detest the garlic smell so much but even humans like us. The strong and pungent smell emitting from the garlic helps to keep mozzies away and perhaps your family as well! Application can be via a spray solution of sprinkling crushed garlic around. However, you may need to consider this action can invite other pests to feed on this food source and bring about another pest problem.

Repel mosquitoes with citronella oil or candle

You can find citronella oil in candles, insect repellent, patches and sprays as if it contains the citrus scent that mosquitoes dislike. Coming from the lemongrass plant, both oils are widely used as a mosquito repelling remedy. This citrus scent works by blocking the scent trails such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid that mosquitoes favour. Nevertheless, this natural remedy helps in repellent to some extent by increasing the difficulty for mozzies to locate you as a host. However, it lacks the efficacy effect in eliminating a mosquito infestation, not forgetting the hazardous effect of oil that turns flammable.

You may also like: Do natural plant repellent remedies work against mosquitoes

Using bleach to reduce mosquitoes’ population

The term bleach sounds potent and powerful especially in areas of cleaning, sanitiser and bleaching. Simply mix a portion of active ingredients such as sodium hypochlorite and spray into stagnant or standing water to target at the larvae. However, with its potency and toxicity, it not only potentially destroys the mosquito larvae but also non-target species, wildlife or even kids or pests who ingest the solution.

Buying insect sprays and target at flying mozzies around

There is easy access to insecticides or spray-on to eliminate flying mosquitoes. They work the fastest by contact kill mode and destroy any buzzing mosquitoes around you. However, they are pesticides with toxicity and for safety concerns, we should not be releasing these harmful ingredients in open environments where there are kids, toddlers and elderly around. Mosquitoes fly around easily, which made chasing them after difficult. We may end up filling the room with insecticide while allowing the mozzies to escape from spray.

Part 3: Get rid of mosquitoes with pest control

Eliminate any mosquito breeding sources and receptacles

First step to eliminating mosquitoes in the house is to remove any mosquito breeding sources. In fact, we are unaware of the various receptacles lying around that are results of poor housekeeping or neglected daily habits. For example, we left a pail at the balcony to collect water from a rain event, forgot to refresh the flower vase with water in it or overwatering plants that collect excess in the tray. These are common mosquito mistakes that we avoid starting a mosquito infestation. We are trained to determine where are breeding sites to identify or recognise signs of mosquito infestation. Engage a pest control company to perform pest identification and detect signs of pest infestation for your safety and protection.

Maintain diligent housekeeping and landscaping

Poor housekeeping and compromised sanitation is the one of the main causes of pest infestation, and applies to mosquitoes as well. Firstly, not wiping away the water spills and leaks immediately that gives mosquitoes a chance to breed in it. They do not need a lot to breed, and just a coin size is all they need. Secondly, the outdoor or courtyard has junks and bulky items that are cluttering around to become a potential receptacle. Thirdly, gutters are filled with debris and over time, they are choked without proper drainage thus creating stagnant water. Fourthly, drains should not be clogged and to check regularly for defects. Finally, they seek a shady and sheltered environment to rest and a poorly maintained yard is a perfect resting ground for mosquitoes. Be sure to cut those high grasses, trim the overgrown vegetation and shrubs and remove leaves piles.

Engage professional pest control services to control mosquitoes

With these deadly and fatal diseases, it is best not to leave to chance when dealing with mosquitoes. Engage professional experts such as pest control specialists to perform regular pest control services for your mosquito management needs. This includes inspection and analysing of the premise, conducting scheduled water-fogging services and applying larvicide on targeted breeding key risk areas to destroy larvae. Typically, the frequency ranges from weekly and fortnightly to ensure treatment covers the full lifecycle of up to 14 days.

Install or place mosquito traps at key risk areas

You may install mosquito traps for homes with outdoors that pose risk of high mosquito population and breeding sites. They are designed to control both adult and larvae stages in a green and safe manner. In addition, the trap promotes an efficient dissemination of the active ingredient to surrounding sites and infects any female mosquitoes that land on it, and eventually killing them due to their inability to bite. Find out how you can resolve your mozzie concerns with In2care mosquito trap. There are also indoor mosquito traps to lure and trap flying-in mozzies through windows and balconies for added protection.

Apply proofing and protection against mosquito entries

Mosquito protection should be well covered from eliminating the root source, removing physical mosquitoes and their larvae but also protecting ourselves from mosquito entries and bites. Firstly, minimise their entries through windows, glass and door panels of the balcony with insect magnetic screen. Secondly, fix and seal up cracks and gaps that have entry points for mosquitoes to make their way in. Thirdly, protect your exposed skin with long sleeves and pants during exercises when outdoors. Fourthly, keep cool and dry off the perspiration from your body to avoid attracting mozzies with the lactic acid. Finally, it helps with putting on light coloured fabrics as dark clothing allows mosquitoes to spot you easily.

Part 4: Frequently Asked Questions about mosquito pest control

Why are we prone to being targeted by mosquitoes?

There are many possibilities on how you become the target of mosquitoes more than the others do:

• You might be attracting them more with dark colored attire
• There are warmer and carbon dioxide emitting around you
• More perspiration and lactic resulting from warm weather or activities
• Your skin could have bacteria and microbes that releases odour
• Beverage such as beer attracts mozzie with the bubbles from the bottle

How did we not notice that we have mosquito bites?

There are times where we realised we had mosquito bites on our hands or legs because of the itch we cannot bear. Firstly, mosquitoes release compounds that have a local anesthesia effect as mozzies pierce through our skin and bite us. Secondly, it is a matter of a few seconds of extracting blood that we can miss, especially if we are engaged in something. Thirdly, they usually take off very quickly that we might not have noticed their presence landing on our skin. Find out what you can do with mosquito bite relief here.

Why mosquito control seems to be ineffective?

Eliminating mosquitoes are challenging because of several factors that increased in the difficulty control level. They are traveling pests, flying from location to location and it can be hard to contain them since they are light and tiny, and are not as easy as trapping them with a lure. Here are more reasons why mosquito control efforts are not working.

• Insufficient mosquito control programme in place, in number of treatments or consistency
• Taking care of the adult mosquitoes but neglecting the vast breeding sources around
• Seek DIY and home pest remedies that may not work in eliminating mozzies effectively
• Neighbours or surrounding environment has mosquito problem that spreads around
• Mosquitoes have increased their immunity resistance towards insecticide chemicals
• Urbanisation and shift in lifestyle and city designs have impact mosquito presence
• Embarking on reactive rather than proactive approach, pest control should be ongoing

What do we need to know about dengue clusters in Singapore?

Start to safeguard yourself by having adequate information and awareness around dengue in Singapore. Firstly, understand what a dengue cluster is and where are these dengue clusters located in Singapore. Secondly, it is important to know the dengue fever symptoms, as it can turn fatal and life threatening in severe cases. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has launched a simple 5 Steps Mozzie Wipe Out programme, and if you have not done so, you should take proactive action. Thirdly, the new dengue virus serotype, DENV-3 was detected in large volumes recently and immunity against this virus is low thus far. Dr Chan Hiang Hao, Medical Entomologist of Rentokil Initial shared that a patient diagnosed with Dengue Fever previously may suffer a more serious condition if he gets another virus strain. Finally, to identify if that is a bite that is resulting from a mosquito or other pest biting species such as bed bugs.

When are mozzies active in biting? In the day or night?

Thankfully, mosquitoes are not practically around 24/7 to feed on us. They have their rest times and for species such as Aedes, they are largely active in the daytime, whereas the Anopheles mosquitoes tend to bite us at night. However, it is possible to see active mosquitoes at either daytime of the day if there is food scarcity or overpopulation that causes competition among them.

What are the causes of mosquito infestation in my home?

Firstly, weather plays a part in mosquito infestation where rainy weather risk in receptacles and warmer climates allow mosquitoes to thrive better. Secondly, we can ignore standing water around especially at hiding corners or areas with limited visibility. Thirdly, poor watering plant habits promote stagnant water accumulation. This includes either excess spilling water around the trays or lack of watering that hardens the soil that limits moisture absorption. Fourthly, we could neglect facility maintenance including housekeeping and landscaping. Finally, we might have lesser awareness and be negligent in taking proactive steps in mosquito prevention. Above all, mosquito control requires a collective effort to eliminate both adult mosquitoes and their larvae. This is because cross infestation and breeding spread can occur if without proper measures in place.

Call Rentokil Singapore at (65) 6347 8138 for mosquito control services today.