Across the globe, there are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes. In Georgia alone, there are at least 43 species of this common household pest. Because of the many types of mosquitoes, it's difficult to give a single description of the mosquito life cycle. But, with that said, it is possible to give an overview of the life cycle of mosquitoes in Atlanta.
How It All Begins
The mosquito life cycle begins with eggs. Of course, you need an adult female mosquito to lay those eggs. Before laying her eggs, the female looks for stagnant water. Whether the water is inside or outside, the female is content to land on the surface of the water and release the eggs.
What happens next depends on the species of mosquito in Atlanta. Some of these pests make an egg raft that floats on the water. This is why mosquitoes need stagnant water; moving water could damage or destroy the eggs. If you have an old tire or a bowl full of water, it's the perfect environment for mosquito eggs.
The Larval Stages
If you ever looked closely at stagnant water, you might have noticed tiny wriggling creatures that resemble worms. There's a good chance you weren’t looking at worms, but you were looking at mosquito larvae. Typically, these flying pests go through between four and five larval stages after hatching from eggs.
During the larval stage, mosquitoes eat algae and other microscopic organisms. They grow and develop into pupa, which then mature into adult mosquitoes. In total, the process only takes about eight to ten days. This probably doesn't seem very long, and it seems even shorter when you actually have a mosquito problem. You can go from having no mosquitoes to having an infestation in a matter of days.
The male mosquitoes don't live for much longer than their life cycle. However, the females live longer. They can last for a few months, which means that these pests will continue to bother you. Even worse, the flying insects will continue to reproduce. As long as your property has the right conditions for mosquitoes, you'll always have them around.
Spotting The Breeding Grounds
If you're not familiar with mosquitoes, you probably don't know where to find their breeding grounds. They can be tough to spot unless you have experience. If you want to find mosquito larvae in Atlanta, look for puddles and other standing water in your yard. After a rainfall, be particularly vigilant. There could be water you never noticed, and larvae may be hiding in the water.
When you do find water, look closely for wriggling larvae. If you see small organisms or have mosquito bites, you shouldn't hesitate to call for help. You have mosquitoes and need an experienced professional to step in.
What To Do About Mosquitoes
There are a few things you can do as a property owner to limit the presence of mosquitoes. But, in reality, this isn't an issue you can tackle on your own. The only way to deal with mosquitoes is to work with a professional. Without the right tools and training, you can't expect to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Here at Tuxedo Mosquito, we'll act quickly to handle your mosquito infestation. We know exactly where to look to find mosquito larvae, and have the tools it takes to get rid of them. In addition to removing mosquito larvae, we also make sure to eliminate the adults.
Our team of professionals is well-versed in both mosquito prevention and elimination in Atlanta. If you don't want to struggle with these pests, call us today. We're eager to help you keep Atlanta mosquitoes from your property.