Canadians look forward to summertime all year long. However, if there is one thing that really spoils outdoor fun in the warmer weather, it's mosquitos. Like many insects, mosquitos become active as the weather warms up, then start feeding on blood. Their itchy bites are miserable and can put you at risk of illnesses or infection from scratching hard enough to break the skin. Mosquito control may be your best line of defence.
While mosquitos can travel several kilometres to find food, they usually stay within a 30-meter radius of their breeding site, i.e., where they emerged from their eggs. Knowing the breeding habits and life cycle can help you prevent them from nesting on your Mississauga property.
Aquatic Insects
A mosquito is vastly different from a whale, but there is one respect in which the two are remarkably similar. Like a whale, a mosquito is an animal that mostly lives in the water but has to come up to the surface periodically to breathe. Therefore, mosquitos need water in which to make their nests. They prefer standing water to running water, and it doesn't matter if it is polluted or brackish. In fact, in the early stages of their lives, mosquitos feed on the particulate matter found in the water. This means it is actually helpful to the mosquito if the water isn't clean and clear. Mosquitos don't need a large body of water in which to make nests, either. Wading pools, birdbaths, and even puddles of standing water can all provide sufficient space for mosquitos to make their nests and lay their eggs.Life Stages
Like most insects, mosquitos go through four life stages:- Egg
- Larva
- Pupa
- Adult