Top 5 Things to Know About Mosquitoes in Columbia, South Carolina

Mosquitoes are by far one of the least mysterious creatures to us. We know that they linger during warm and hot seasons and they live for making homes in our yards. They love biting us and that’s enough to know to stay far away from them when possible. However, that’s easier said than done. Even though it’s difficult to want to get to know mosquitoes better, learning their habits, likes and dislikes may help you prevent them in the future.

The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Mosquitoes in Columbia, SC

1. Only Female Mosquitoes Bite Humans and Animals
   While those big, scary looking mosquitoes may cause your skin to crawl, in most instances they’re actually male mosquitoes and won’t bite at all. In fact, male mosquitoes mostly feed on nectar. If you’ve been bitten by a mosquito, it’s the female mosquito that is to blame. The female needs blood in order to lay her eggs; it’s as simple as that. So, it’s not all mosquitoes that are doing the biting, contrary to what you may think.
2. Mosquitoes Are Terrible At Flying
   While you may associate mosquitoes as aerodynamic masters when dealing with them in your backyard, they’re actually quite terrible at flying. The majority of the time, mosquitoes will travel through foliage to get to their next blood meal. This means they fly from bush to tree to get to their next meal. In fact, mosquitoes only travel at a speed of approximately 1.5 MPH. Keeping this in mind, if you’re seeing mosquitoes in droves within your yard, then it’s safe to assume they’re living in the vicinity of your yard.
3. There Are Approximately 3,500 Species of Mosquitoes on Earth
   That’s a lot of mosquitoes. However, not all live here in the United States and only a couple hundred species of mosquitoes feast on human blood. Some mosquitoes are known to stick to specific animals, like birds for example.
4. Mosquitoes Can Detect CO2 From 25 Yards Away!
   When you’re starving, it may seem you can smell a restaurant from a mile away. While you may think you have a good sense of smell, mosquitoes are way better. Specifically when it comes to detecting carbon dioxide. As you may have guessed, mosquitoes find their blood meals by detecting the CO2 that’s emitted when we breathe. Seeing as how mosquitoes can sense carbon dioxide from 1/4 a football field away, it’s safe to say they’ve spotted you well before you can spot them. So that pool of water (AKA, mosquito breeding factory) in your neighbor’s yard puts you well within the detection radius of a hungry, adult female mosquito.
5. Mosquitoes Are The Deadliest Animals On Earth – Without Question
   While you may fear snakes, spiders, sharks, grizzly bears and other dangerous animals, none of them hold a candle to the mosquito. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Of all disease-transmitting insects, the mosquito is the greatest menace, spreading malaria, dengue and yellow fever, which together are responsible for several million deaths and hundreds of millions of cases every year.”

The prevalence of mosquitoes in Columbia, SC, and surrounding areas is remarkable. Due to our warm, some might say, tropical climate, mosquitoes are out and about for a major duration of the year. If you’re finding yourself slapping at mosquitoes in your yard, then it’s time to call the mosquito control experts at Mosquito Squad of Columbia. To schedule your mosquito barrier treatment, simply call us today at F:P:Sub:Phone} or email us at columbia@mosquitosquad.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!