Did you Know about Mosquitoes?

by,  Anne Kretschmann, North Lakeland Discovery Center

First published in the “Turtle Rock Rag”, Turtle Lakes Chain Association Spring 2014 newsletter

Wisconsin has 56 species of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are in the order Diptera, members of which have 4-stages of development: egg, larvae, pupae, and adults. It takes mosquitoes 10-14 days to go from eggs to adults, so you can expect 1-2 weeks after a rain to get inundated!

Mosquitoes are as diverse as any family with great variability in food preferences, habitat preferences, and breeding areas. There are many species of mosquitoes that never bite people, preferring birds or amphibians instead (believe it or not!)  Only females bite, as they need the proteins in blood to lay their eggs successfully. Male mosquitoes are harmless, sustaining themselves on only nectar, and are distinguished from females by large fuzzy antennas (similar to a male bird’s fancy plumage.) 

Tree-hole Mosquito by Azael Meza

The first three stages of mosquito development are in water. There are some species that are cavity breeders, laying their eggs in the nooks and crannies that hold water in trees. Other species prefer containers such as old tires or boggy areas as breeding sites. Temporary water sources that fill with rain water are generally the source of most mosquitoes with rainfall often triggering a hatch. In some species of mosquitoes, eggs can lay dormant ‘high and dry’ for years, only hatching when water comes. Researchers determined that this dry dormancy is one way that West Nile Virus moved so quickly across the United States, with mosquito eggs hitching rides on the inside of tractor trailer tires! Waters containing fish or higher flows of water are not usually good mosquito breeding areas as the larvae are eaten by minnows, dragonflies, and damselfly nymphs. Other mosquito-eating predators include crane flies (very large 1-2 inch mosquito-look-alike insect) and bats.

Adult mosquitoes are not active when wind speeds exceed 10mph, at temperatures below 55 degrees, or during mid-day (with a few exceptions.) Adults rest during the day in sheltered, shady areas with lush vegetation. Unfortunately for us in the Northwoods, they often rest in tall grass and other low vegetation, becoming active during low light, especially on warm humid nights with calm winds. They do not breed in this tall grass, but simply rest in a protected area. 

Tree-hole Mosquito by Azael Meza

There are many old-wives methods for keeping mosquitoes at bay. Female mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide given off during cellular respiration as well as through breathing. Things that mask the ‘scent’ of carbon dioxide are the source of many home-remedies such as eating garlic and rubbing orange peels or cedar on your skin. You should avoid flowery and fruity perfumes and detergents, opt for eucalyptus or lemon-scented instead. To deter mosquitoes, you can plant highly aromatic plants around your porch, such as rosemary, mint, lemongrass, marigolds, and citronella. They also prefer cooler skin temperatures and are visually attracted to dark-colored clothing, so warm yourself up and wear white!

Tree-hole Mosquito by Azael Meza

The best thing that you can do to decrease mosquito populations is to make sure that you don’t have any standing water in containers around your home such as tires, rain gutters clogged with leaves, boats, buckets, barrels, tarps, garbage cans, wading pools, wheel barrows, and flower pot planter dishes. You should be especially vigilant about containers holding decaying organic material such as leaves or grass clippings as the common northern house mosquito seeks these breeding areas out. Mosquito larvae eat algae and microorganisms, so you should keep clean water (flush twice a week) in bird baths and outdoor dog dishes to discourage mosquito young’ins. Mosquitoes will travel up to 10-20 miles from their breeding site to find a human meal, so spread the word to your neighbors and beyond!