Mobile's Biggest Pest: The Mosquito

hungry mosquito biting a human
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Mosquitoes are well-known as irritating and troublesome pests to have around. Many Mobile residents would benefit from knowing how to keep mosquitoes away from their property and the best ways to kill mosquitoes if they've invaded their properties. 

What Is The Purpose Of Mosquitoes In Mobile?

While many individuals may believe that mosquitoes don't have a purpose, these pesky insects do actually play an important role in the environment. Mosquitoes provide an important source of food for the many different fish, birds, bats, and frogs in the Mobile area. Without mosquitoes around, the populations of these species may start to suffer.

Additionally, mosquitoes can act as important pollinators for many types of flowers. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that a mosquito's primary food source is flower nectar, not blood.

Mosquitoes: The Life Cycle Of The Little Fly In Mobile

Learning the life cycle of a mosquito is important for any Mobile resident in order to combat this pest in all of its stages of development. There are four life stages for a mosquito – egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The adult female lays its eggs in standing water; the eggs hatch when fully submerged. It takes approximately five days for the larvae to become a pupa that will then develop into an adult mosquito in around three days, completing the life cycle of a Mobile mosquito.

Why Do Mosquitoes In Mobile Bite?

Understanding why mosquitoes bite means that you need to learn what attracts mosquitoes to people in the first place. Only female mosquitoes will bite humans or other mammals and feed on their blood to obtain the protein they need for their eggs to develop. However, this bite can be fairly dangerous as there are many diseases you can get from mosquitoes. 

Below, we list some of the diseases you can get from mosquitoes. You may be more likely to catch these illnesses when traveling out of the United States, but any mosquito bite that has red streaks coming from it or that's causing other symptoms, such as fever or difficulty breathing, should be met with immediate medical attention.

  • Malaria
  • Zika virus
  • West Nile virus
  • Dengue
  • Chikungunya virus

Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away In Mobile

If you want to know how to repel mosquitoes naturally, you should follow the prevention tips below. These steps will help deter these pests from your property and protect individuals from the many negative consequences that mosquito bites can bring.

  • Remove areas of standing water, as this is one of the biggest attractants for mosquitoes because it's where they lay their eggs. Areas of standing water and pools of moisture can lead to significant mosquito infestations.
  • Ensure that all window and door screens are in good condition and keep exterior doors and windows closed as often as possible to prevent mosquitoes from invading your home and causing problems inside.
  • When outside, light candles with mosquito-repelling scents, such as citronella, clove, or eucalyptus. These scents can keep mosquitoes away and stop them from biting you while you spend time in your yard.

You should also keep in mind that one of the best ways to kill mosquitoes and tame an ongoing infestation is to contact the professionals at EnSec Of Alabama. Our experts will be able to help you identify any mosquito species on your property and provide you with customized solutions that enable you to clear your property of these pests and ensure that you live completely mosquito-free.