Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are true flies with one pair of wings and are mostly feeding at dawn and dusk. You may not have known, but only female mozzies bite humans to feed on their blood for protein to develop her eggs. Male mosquitoes eat carbohydrates such as plant nectar and the sugar in fruit. Mosquitoes are more active during warmer months just when people and their pets enjoy various outdoor activities. A mosquito bite not only causes an itching red swollen spot, but may also cause allergic reactions or transmit certain diseases.

Female mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs and will use any stagnant water such as bird baths, pools, fish ponds, old tyres, pet water dishes, etc. One female mosquito can lay about 300 eggs at a time in clusters on the surface of the water. She can lay eggs three times over the spread of her life time. Since the female mosquito is a vector for diseases and is the one that feeds on blood, she can transmit diseases from one human to another. The most important mosquito-borne disease in South Africa is of course malaria.

There are certain steps one can take to eliminate or reduce the problem, but if you have a serious infestation, you will need to call in the pest controlling troops. Pest Control Excellence, that is.