It’s a well-known fact that throughout the US, mosquito populations are flourishing, and insect-borne illnesses are on the rise. The news media regularly warns us to protect our families and ourselves. And so we retreat, taking cover indoors, and missing out on all the fun. A quick internet search will reveal a plethora of articles about the dangers of mosquito-borne illnesses, and the need for deliberate prevention methods.
Mosquito Facts
- Mosquitoes are “born” in standing water, mud, ponds, tin cans, under decks, puddles and old tires, etc. Hundreds of thousands are “born” each day in your area during infestations.
- Worldwide there are approximately 3,300 species of mosquitoes.
- In North America (north of Mexico) we have 167 species and subspecies.
- Only the female bites you because the “beak” on the male mosquito is not built in a way that it can bite you.
- Mosquitoes rarely travel farther than 300 feet from their birthplace.
- They like dark areas and will suck the juice out of plants in order to live – including tree leaves, grass, shrubs, etc.
- Spraying poisons kills adults present today, but more are born tomorrow and you must spray poisons again tomorrow.
- Ideally, a spray kills all mosquitoes present in an area, and prevents the birth of new ones. Most importantly, mosquitoes from adjacent areas will be repelled by the sulfurous odor (undetectable to humans) that coats the plants they are trying to feed on.