From coast to sandhill, pasture to homestead, dozens of mosquito species breed around Florida homes and neighborhoods. Mosquitoes move through life in one of four stages — egg, larva, pupa, or adult. As blood-feeding adults, some are simply pests, while others can transmit pathogens that cause disease in humans, companion animals, and livestock.
Understanding the mosquito life cycle is key to mosquito prevention and protection.
Life Cycle.
Mosquitoes have four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Eggs
Mosquitoes that require permanent water lay their eggs directly on the water’s surface. Florida’s St. Louis encephalitis mosquito is one example. The female prefers to lay her eggs in permanent water.
Floodwater mosquitoes lay their eggs in moist substrates, such as leaf litter. Eggs may also be laid in areas affected by high tides or flooding. Floodwater mosquito eggs require a period of drying before they become viable. They hatch the next time they are covered with water.
Most mosquito eggs are smaller than a grain of ground pepper.
Larvae
Larvae are segmented and legless and are often confused with tadpoles. Also called “wrigglers” or “wigglers,” larvae are the easiest mosquito life stage to control. Some of the greatest impacts on mosquito populations occur during this stage.
Larvae are susceptible to cultural, chemical, and biological controls. Frogs, native fish, and dragonfly nymphs all eat mosquito larvae.
Both floodwater and permanent-water mosquito larvae live in water.
Pupae
Life gets interesting at the pupal stage. Pupae are aquatic and live in water, but they don’t eat. They lack functioning mouthparts and do not feed or produce waste. Instead, they survive on stored energy reserves.
As the flying adult mosquito emerges, the pupal skin is shed.
Adults
As adults, both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, plant carbohydrates, and honeydew. The male mosquito is essential for reproduction, but it is the female that takes the blood meal.
Carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and animals helps attract the female. Her tube-like mouthpart, the proboscis, pierces the host’s skin and extracts blood. At the same time, she releases substances that help reduce pain and prevent the blood from clotting.
Unfortunately, disease-causing pathogens may also be transmitted while she takes her blood meal.
No Water, No Larvae
One of the easiest ways to reduce mosquitoes around the home is to eliminate standing water.
Routinely drain saucers under potted plants. Cupped plants such as bromeliads (Weaver et al., 2021) and pitcher plants, as well as water lettuce, can hold water and potentially support the egg, larval, and pupal stages. Clear out thick brush to increase air-flow around the house.
Empty and scrub outdoor pet bowls and wading pools two to three times a week during summer. Dump birdbath water once a week. Keep floating debris out of ponds and vegetation short around ponds. Maintain free-flowing ditches and culverts.
“Government has utilized modern pesticides, after weighing cost and benefit in the interest of public safety and human health.”
— D.A. Drew, Commercial Agriculture Agent (ret.), UF/IFAS Extension Levy County
Chemical control.
Household products such as mosquito “dunks” contain the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). Bti specifically targets mosquito larvae and may be one method of larval control.
BVA oil can control larvae and pupae. Granules and household premise sprays can also be effective when used according to label directions.
Levy County Mosquito Control works to reduce adult mosquito populations using aerosol applications. PERMXUL 4-4 sticks to mosquito wings and prevents flying. If you are experiencing high mosquito populations, contact Levy County Mosquito Control online or by phone at 352-486-5127.
Beekeepers who would like to be placed on the no-spray list may contact Levy County Mosquito Control at 352-486-5127. More information about beekeeper registration is available through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Around the Home.
Repair cracks and openings, and make sure vents, windows, and doors have intact screens.
Protect your skin by wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors. Registered mosquito repellents are approved for human use when used according to label directions.
More tips on personal repellents (Rutledge and Day, 2019) and mosquito-proofing your home are available through FloridaHealth.gov.
The Florida Department of Health lists Eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), chikungunya, dengue, and West Nile fever among diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
“Mosquito-borne viruses rarely cause illness in dogs and cats, but mosquitoes can transmit heartworms to dogs and cats, which can cause a fatal disease. It is recommended for dogs and outside cats to be on a heartworm preventative that can be given on its own or in a flea, tick, and heartworm combo prevention medication.”
— Eva Buckner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & State Extension Specialist, UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory
Repellents require special consideration around cats. Permethrin products are toxic to cats.
An organ at the base of a mosquito’s wing strums against the wings, creating that familiar buzzing sound. The buzz is part of the mosquito’s mating behavior — and it is usually my cue to put away the garden tools and head inside.
Until next time — Happy Gardening!
Resources.
University of Florida’s Medical Entomology Laboratory web site.
A color, 3”x4” mosquito ID deck is available at the IFAS bookstore , search mosquito.
C. Roxanne Connelly, 2019, UF publication, Hurricanes and Mosquitoes
Ana L. Romero-Weaver, L. Philip Lounibos, and Eva A. Buckner, 2021, Mosquitoes and Bromeliads
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