Mosquito
What are the Risks of Mosquito Bites?
Mosquitoes are vectors of numerous diseases including malaria, yellow fever, dengue, Chikungunya, Dengue Fever and Zika.
Wearing an insect repellent containing DEET or another EPA-registered ingredient is the best way to prevent mosquito bites. It’s also important to take steps to prevent mosquito breeding grounds around your home, since mosquitoes can lay eggs in as little as a half an inch of water. If you are concerned about mosquito control on your property, contact a Be Gone Pest Control or the Ministry of Health for advice on how to get rid of mosquitoes.
Anopheles Mosquito
Appearance
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.
Life Cycle
Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 10 days.
Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.
Habits
Habitat – prefer clean and unpolluted water.
Biting rhythm – bite at night and rest indoor and outdoor (depends on species).
Prefer darker colours.
Female with one blood meal can lay 50 – 150 eggs.
Aedes Aegypti Mosquito
Appearance
Adult has black and white markings.
Larval rest 45 degree from the surface of the water.
Egg is black in colour and shape like an American (NFL) Football.
Life Cycle
Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 8 days.
Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.
Habits
Habitat – container breeder especially man-made containers with clean water.
Prefer darker colours like black and red.
Can fly short distance (50 – 100m).
Culex Mosquito
Appearance
Adult – thorax, legs and veins on the wings are always covered with brown scales. Dull in colour. 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.
Life Cycle
Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 10 days.
Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.
Habits
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 colours.
Long distance fliers.