Mosquito species

Mosquitoes can be hard to control as they winged pests with the ability to fly around. Managing a mosquito problem indoors can be even more challenging. The use of harsh chemicals should be controlled in an indoor environment.

However, the first step to get rid of mosquitoes at home is to prevent one from entering. Installing window and door screens is a good idea to keep mosquitoes out. Next, good housekeeping practices can also reduce any potential mosquito breeding. This includes removing any stagnant water in containers to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Lastly, use larvicides to treat drains, pipes and water that are not used for consumption.

The three common mosquito species in Singapore include the following:

• Aedes Mosquitoes
• Anopheles Mosquitoes
• Culex Mosquitoes

Think you have a mosquito issues, find out the signs of a mosquito infestation here.

Several factors may determine the cost of a mosquito control programme. They include:

• Treatment area: What is the area required for the treatment? Do you require both indoor and outdoor mosquito control?
• Frequency of treatment: Do you require weekly, fortnightly or monthly services?
• Severity of infestation: Are you living in a dengue cluster? If so, you may need to adopt a higher frequency of treatment to ensure adequate protection.
• Treatment methods: Besides the usual mosquito fogging, would you be keen to explore other effective mosquito treatment options to control the mosquito population?

Read here to learn more about the average cost of a pest control service in Singapore.

Dengue fever is transmitted from the female Aedes mosquitoes to humans through a bite. Symptoms of dengue fever can occur between 4 to 10 days after the infected mosquito bite. The symptoms may include:

• Headaches and fever
• Pain or sore eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Joint, bone or muscle pain
• Rash on the skin

Dengue is not contagious and does not spread when one gets in touch with an infection person.

• Adult has white markings on thorax and legs.
• Larval rest 45 degree from the surface of the water.
• Egg is black in colour and shape like a rugby ball.

• Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 8 days.
• Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.

• Habitat – container breeder especially man-made containers with clean water.
• Prefer darker colours like black and red.
• Can fly short distance (50 – 100m).

• Adult – pale and dark marks on its wings and resting 45 degree angle to the surface.
• Larval rest parallel to surface of the water.
• Egg is about 1mm long and has floats on its sides.

• Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 10 days.
• Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.

• Habitat – prefer clean and unpolluted water.
• Biting rhythm – bite at night and rest indoor and outdoor (depends on species).
• Prefer darker colors.
• Female with one blood meal can lay 50 – 150 eggs.

• Adult – thorax, legs and veins on the wings are always covered with brown scales. Dull in color. The tip of the abdomen is always blunt.
• Larval rest 45 degree from the surface of the water.
• Egg is brown, long and cylindrical, vertical on water surface, cemented in a raft of 300 eggs. Raft usually 3 – 4mm long and 2 – 3mm wide.

• Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 10 days.
• Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.

• Habitat – mainly breed in polluted stagnant water and drains.
• Biting rhythm – bite at night and usually rest indoor before and after the blood meal. Sometimes they may rest outdoor.
• Prefer darker colors.
• Long distance fliers.