10 Things You Didn't Know About Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are common outdoor pests in St. Louis, but how much do you really know about them? Here we’re sharing our top ten little known facts about mosquitoes.

• Only female mosquitoes bite: Male and female mosquitoes feed mainly on fruits and plant nectar. However, females also need the protein found in blood to help eggs develop. A female mosquito will rest for a few days after biting, then lay her eggs.

• Mosquitoes don’t have teeth: Female mosquitoes don’t actually bite. What you’re feeling is a long, pointed mouthpart called a proboscis. Mosquitoes use the serrated proboscis to pierce through the skin to locate capillary. They then draw blood from one of these tubes.

• The average lifespan of a mosquito is less than two months: Males have the shortest lives, usually less than 10 days. However, females can live about 6-8 weeks with ideal conditions.

• Mosquitoes have six legs: They also have scaled wings, two large compound eyes, and two ocelli.

• Mosquitoes have been around since the Jurassic period: making them approximately 210 million years old.

• The reaction from a mosquito bite is caused by saliva: Most people have an allergic reaction to a mosquito’s saliva, which causes the bite area to swell and itch.

• Dark clothing attracts mosquitoes: Darker clothing retains more heat than light-colored clothes, and mosquitoes are drawn to heat.

• Fish and dragonflies are a mosquitoes top predator: Mosquitofish feed on mosquito larvae and dragonfly larvae eats mosquito larvae.

• Mosquito is Spanish for “little fly”: This term reportedly originated in the early 16th century.

• Mosquitoes hibernate: Mosquitoes prefer temperatures over 80 degrees and are cold-blooded. At temperatures below 50 degrees, mosquitoes begin their hibernation for winter.

Contact us today at (314) 582-3980 for a free estimate on our mosquito and tick control!