Mosquito season is the least favorite season in Florida. Don’t let mosquitos ruin your summer fun. Interestingly, as soon as our temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees, dormant mosquito eggs start to hatch. For some areas in Florida, that period can be as early as February. Let’s learn a little about mosquitoes and try some tips to outsmart these annoying little pests.
Mosquitoes in Florida
Florida is the home of 80 mosquito species. Worldwide there are over 3,500 species of these insects. We all hate them, but did you know that only two percent of the world’s mosquitoes cause 100% of our misery? Coincidentally, only 2% bite humans, livestock, and wild species. In Florida, six of our species are disease-carriers of concern. However, we will discuss them in a future article. Some mosquitoes are very small, like the Pale-footed Uranotaenia mosquito (Uranotaenia lowii) at 2.5 mm while others are huge like the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) with wingspans of 6-7 mm. Their life cycles vary with environmental conditions. Warm and moist conditions can lead to a very short life cycle. Although, some species’ eggs will overwinter until the weather is just perfect for survival.
Mosquito Biology
Some eggs need water to hatch while other species’ eggs need a drying out period to hatch. The egg will hatch after the first spring rains. Some mosquito species rely on standing water to lay their eggs while other need salinity in the water like the marsh mosquito to lay their eggs. The water can be stagnant, fresh, or salty depending on the species.
The larval stage takes place in water, whether that is a puddle, a pond, or a flower pot liner. The larvae have “snorkels” to breathe air above the water’s surface. Their diet varies from algae, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa to organic debris in the water. Larvae will grow and molt several times before they enter the pupae stage. During this stage of rest, the mosquito is vulnerable. TIP – remove standing water sources from your yard and you can break these cycles.
The adult stage is for reproduction. The female is the biter while the male buzzes your ear awaiting a female to come along and mate. If the female does not get enough human or other animal blood, the egg-laying stage is impacted. The entire life cycle can be as short as a few days to an entire month or longer for dormant eggs. TIP – wearing light clothing with long sleeves and pant legs reduces the female’s bite zone. TIP – Put insect repellent on your outer clothing if you wear tight-fitting clothes. The female can still get her proboscis through the clothe layer.
Preparing for mosquito season
Since mosquitoes rely on water for their larvae and pupae stages, look around your yard. What can hold water for more than a few days? Old buckets tucked behind sheds, or tires stored awaiting the landfill drop off are excellent for holding water. Coincidentally, the Asian tiger mosquitoes love to breed in the standing water that collects in them. Drill holes in the tires to provide drainage to the water and turn the buckets upside down. Rainbarrels are great for watering your plants. Make sure all entry points have tight-woven screening to prevent mosquito entry.
Flower pot liners are quickly overlooked and notorious breeding areas. Some plants like bromeliads, specifically the Neoregelia species, can hold water for a very long time. Either regularly flush their center flower-blooming reservoir (this is impractical!) or consider using a larvicide in the reservoir. There are products like “donut dunks” that are designed for larger bodies of water. These products contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. The donut can be crumbled and placed in the reservoir. At last resort, you could choose different drought tolerant plants for your landscape, especially if mosquitoes are an issue in your backyard. While you are flushing your bromeliads, refresh the water in birdbaths weekly. This is better for the birds, too.
More great tips!
TIP – clean out rain gutters in the spring while they are drier than the summer months. Even morning dew collecting in the rain gutter is enough moisture to decaying leaves. And it is enough moisture for some species to lay eggs. Additionally, the decaying leaves are the perfect organic matter for the larva to feed on.
Repair window or door screens. This will prevent entry of the mosquitoes into the home. Start researching some of the mosquito capturing devices. And install them! There will be an upcoming article to discuss the many options out there. But as a teaser, there are models that you can install inside your home. These models use UV light to attach the mosquitoes, and sticky tape to trap them.
Invest time inspecting your property
Preparing for mosquito season has many chores. Use this information to come up with a checklist for your home. You will be surprised how much effort it takes. However, preparation is worth the value of ditching the itch this season!
Future articles will cover the six disease-carrying species and the devices to assist with controlling them. If all your efforts don’t reduce your mosquito problem, you can consult a pest control company to spray if you have larger bodies of water around you.
And if mosquitoes intrigue you, the University of Florida IFAS Bookstore has a poster of the mosquito diversity in Florida (Cost $5). https://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1547-mosquito-diversity-poster.aspx
If you need further information on strategies to manage home pests such as mosquitoes, please give us a call at 863-773-2164, or come by the UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County office. If you have any questions related to this article, please contact Lisa Hickey via email at lisa.hickey@ufl.edu or Jonael Bosques at jonael@ufl.edu. We are located at 507 Civic Center Drive, Wauchula FL 33873.
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