Mosquito Myths

This page is a general article that discusses common myths associated with mosquitos. Here you can find a detailed guide for controlling mosquitos as well as learn more about this pesky pest in your yard. This article will go over common strategies from the mosquito control guide and information that discusses facts about mosquitos.

When the cold weather of winter and ocassional spring rainfall leaves it is more likely that you as a homeowner will encounter mosquitoes. With its rhymical buzzing, consistent contact with our skin, and their ability to spread diseases makes us believe anything that may be negatively associated with these pests.

To better prepare you against these pests lets expose some false information associated with mosquitoes. By learning this information you can properly fight against mosquitoes and their activity.

This DIY guide will explain accurate facts and information surrounding these pests, and provide complete mosquito control through our recommended products. For more information, you can always contact one of our professional experts through chat, email, or phone.

Myth: All Mosquitoes Bite

While it may appear that all mosquitos bite that is not the truth.

Fact: Only the female mosquitoes will bite you, while the male mosquitoes will feed on plant nectar. Female mosquitoes depend on you and your animals blood for certain nutrients to develop her eggs and feed herself. A male mosquito cannot feed on blood due to their proboscis being wider. While a female mosquito will have more of a needle-like proboscis making it easier to penetrate your skin for blood.

Myth: Mosquitos are Attracted to Certain Blood Types

About one person in your friend group will be bitten by mosquitoes and you find it to be you. Most of your friends or family may tell you that your attracting these pests due to your blood tasting sweeter than others.

Fact: In reality, most research has found that mosquitoes are attracted to you due to what's on your skin rather than what type of blood you have. This is because your skin creates bacteria, sweat, and odors that mosquitos tend to search for. Mosquitos will use the receptors on their antennae to detect things like body heat, carbon dioxide, sweat, and odors that people emit. Depending on who is around you could make you stand out more to mosquitos. 

People wearing black, brown, and dark colored clothing are more likely to be bitten than those wearing lightly colored clothing. Dark-colored clothing can make their wearer more to mosquito bites since dark-colored clothing absorbs more light, causing their wearers to sweat more.

If you find that you are frequently being bitten when your outside then you can protect yourself with an EPA-approved repellent with DEET. DEET is an popular active ingredient in most insect repellents within the United States. This ingredient works by interferring with the mosquitos receptors, preventing them from landing or detecting you.

Myth: Certain Plants and Bats will Repel Mosquitoes

Despite taking all the precautions around your home, you can't help but wonder if these are necessary when you hear of plants that kill mosquitoes or of how bats tend to feed on these insects.

While bats, frogs and toads are good at maintaining some control over mosquito populations they do not inhabit one area enough to make a large enough dent in your yard's infestation.

Neither does a mosquito controlling plant like lavender. Foliage like these cannot treat mosquitoes just by being planted in your yard, but will have to be crushed or burned to release the material from inside the plant.

Fact: The best way to eliminate mosquito populations is to apply an insecticide product such as Supreme It, Martin's IGR Insecticide, and a BTI Mosquito Dunk.

You will first need to eliminate any standing water sources collecting in your yard such as dumping water gathering in a birdbath, bucket, or rain gutter. For larger bodies of water in your yard that you cannot remove such as ponds use BTI Mosquito Dunk.

You will want to apply 1 dunk from BTI Mosquito Dunk between 25 to 100 sq. ft. of surface water.

Next, use a combination of Supreme IT and Martin's IGR Insecticide. Spray 1 fl. oz. of Supreme IT and 0.67 fl. oz. of Martin's IGR Insecticide per 1 gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft. of treatment area. Within 30 to 90 days you will see a significant difference in your mosquito population.

Myth: Mosquitoes Prefer to Be Active During Dawn and Dusk

Some people may say that mosquitoes are only active at certain times of the day like night. However, this is not guaranteed as each species of mosquitoes will operate on different schedules such as dawn, towards the evening at dusk, or all day. When in reality, the times mosquitos will be active will vary on the species. There is no guarantee that just because you come out at a certain time you will avoid mosquitoes.

Fact: Mosquitoes will rest on the underside of tall grass blades, bushes, shrubs, and other overgrown foliage until they are ready to feast. In some species of mosquitoes it has been noticed that only the females will come out when light is low to feed. However, it should be noted that your yard could contain several species of mosquitoes which could feed either during the day or evening.

Myth: Mosquitoes Die After Biting You

Unlike bees, a mosquito, specifically a female, are designed to feed on you and your animals blood multiple times. Throughout her life a mosquito will consistently feed on blood to support her life and develop her young.

Fact: Male mosquitoes tend to die in a short amount of time while females will tend to live up to 1 or 2 months in order to reproduce. A typical life span for a mosquito is usually 10 days, but this will vary based on predator and environment conditions.

Key Takeaways

Do Male or Female Mosquitoes Bite?

• There are multiple species of mosquitoes, but they all share one thing: a female mosquito will be the only one to bite you.

How Long Do Mosquitoes Live After they Bite You?

• A female mosquito will live the rest of her 1 to 2 month lifespan after biting you in order to produce eggs. If there are no predator factors such as bats, toads, frogs or people these conditions can vary. Typically, due to these reasons most mosquitoes do not live past 10 days.

What attracts Mosquitoes?

• Mosquitoes are attracted by tall foliage, shaded and watered areas, odors released by you through sweat, or even you wearing dark-colored clothing.