What You Didn't Know About Mosquitos

Mosquitos might annoy you to no end during Austin summers, but how much do you know about these pests? Learning more about these insects helps you discover the most effective ways of getting them out of your backyard.

Mosquitos have many natural predators that work to control their population. You may see spiders keeping them in check inside, while amphibians and fish eat mosquito eggs in the water.
These annoying insects know where to find you due to the carbon dioxide that you exhale. The mosquitoes follow that trail so they can go to their food source.
Only female mosquitos need blood, as it’s an essential part of the egg laying process. The males eat nectar from flowers.
The United States has 176 species of mosquitos, although not all of them drink blood.
They are indirectly the most deadly animal in the world, due to the diseases that they transmit to other species. While malaria is the most well-known of these illnesses, encephalitis, dengue and West Nile virus also come from mosquitos.
Mosquitos fly up to 200 feet at a time before they need to take a rest. They’re slow movers, with a top speed of 1.5 mph.
While they don’t fly fast, they do reach the adult stage quickly – within about a week after they hatch.
The first mosquitos got their start more than 400 million years ago. They were around for the dinosaurs and the rise and fall of many other species.
Standing water doesn’t have to be deep to act as a suitable breeding space for mosquitos. Even damp soil works for egg laying.
Some mosquitos hibernate for the winter. Usually, their activity ceases by the end of October, once temperatures reach freezing. In areas with mild winters, like Austin, you can see them much later in the year.
Watch out from July to September in Austin. Mosquitos are actively breeding during this period.
Mosquito misting systems offer an alternative to spraying pesticides around your home, family, and pets.

Mosquitos might be annoying, but they’re also an ancient species that has evolved to become very efficient at what they do. If you need help controlling the mosquitos around your house and yard in Austin, get in touch with MosquitoNix.