A Complete Guide to Mosquito Control in Fort Lauderdale

Mosquitoes are 3,600 species of tiny flies. They differ from typical flies with scaled wings, antennae with many segments, and mouthparts that form a long piercing-sucking proboscis. This proboscis is how mosquitoes “bite” (more on that later in this article!) 

There’s no doubt that mosquitoes are a nuisance, and in many counties, mosquitoes are a common cause of disease. Unlike many insects, mosquitoes have no positive impact on the ecosystem, meaning they are very much a pest. 

This means that it can be extremely beneficial to get rid of mosquitoes. You’ll be more comfortable in your yard and you’ll be reducing the worldwide mosquito population. 

Are you ready to learn more about simple mosquito tips for your yard? Keep reading! 

How Long Do Mosquitoes Live?

This may not feel like the most important question to ask, but to understand how mosquitoes breed, knowing their lifespan is a good starting point. 

In the mosquito life cycle, mosquitoes go through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult. Mosquitoes may be eggs for a few days, but certain species need specific conditions like intermittent flooding in order to hatch. These mosquitoes can remain dormant for years until their ideal hatching conditions are met. 

But for most mosquitoes that don’t need these conditions, it will only take a few days for the eggs to hatch. This begins the larval stage. 

Mosquitoes will be larvae for 4-14 days depending on species, water temperature, and available food. In this stage, they’ll hang suspended from the water surface and breathe through a snorkel-like air tube called a siphon. They will molt 4 times before they become pupae. 

The pupae stage will take 1 ½-4 days. In this stage, they won’t feed, and the skin will split along the back and they will emerge as adults. 

The lifespan of adult mosquitoes depends on a few factors. The biggest factor is whether the mosquito is male or female. 

Males will emerge as adults first, but they don’t live as long as female mosquitoes. They also only feed on plant nectar rather than blood and have the primary purpose of mating with the female mosquitoes. They typically only live 6-7 days. 

Female mosquitoes can live over five months and lay up to 500 eggs in her lifespan (and all of the females in that batch can lay up to 500 eggs!). This means that starting mosquito control services in your yard can prevent a lot of future mosquitoes.

How Do Mosquitoes Bite? 

You probably occasionally wonder, “how do mosquitoes bite?” Well, here’s the thing: They don’t. The itchy red bumps we get from mosquitoes buzzing around may look like bites and feel like bites, but they’re not bites at all. 

Mosquitoes have a proboscis that pierces the skin for blood so they can feed. When that happens, the mosquito injects saliva into the skin. 

And we’re allergic to the saliva, so that causes a reaction - hence, the bumps that pop up on our skin. 

How Do Mosquitoes Reproduce?

Understanding how mosquitoes reproduce can be your golden ticket to get rid of the mosquitoes in your yard. This process starts with standing water. Every mosquito needs standing water to breed, some species just need any form of standing water, while other species need very specific conditions, like flooding or some form of container. 

How does that help you get rid of mosquitoes? Well, it recognizes that the source of the mosquitoes in your yard is standing water. By eliminating this standing water, you’ll see the mosquito population outside your home slowly go down until your yard is mosquito free! 

Easy Ways to Reduce Standing Water

• Store away items that gather standing water such as flower pots, watering cans, spare tires, pool toys, buckets, and containers.
• Replace birth bath water every few days.
• Keep swimming pools clean and chlorinated.
• Clean your gutters regularly.
• Fill tree holes with sealant. 
• Check your sprinklers to make sure you’re not overwatering your lawn. 
• Inspect the exterior of your home for leaks. 

Controlling standing water in your yard is probably the best way to get rid of mosquitoes, because they can’t reproduce without it. So consider following these tips, and if you have follow up questions, you can call our office or ask your technician! 

How to Get Rid of Mosquito Larvae 

If you have a source of standing water in your yard such as a pond, or have trouble keeping the standing water out in general, there are also some pet friendly and eco-friendly ways you can get rid of mosquito larvae to keep eggs from hatching. 

Here are a few ingredients you can combine with water to eliminate mosquito larvae: 

1. Soap - mix just a millimeter of dish soap or shampoo with a gallon of standing water. This is the best way to get rid of mosquito larvae in a pond. 
2. Olive oil or vegetable oil - this will kill larvae almost immediately; however, avoid using this in a pond with fish or a birdbath. 
3. Vinegar - a 15% apple cider to vinegar to water ratio to kill mosquito larvae in very small amounts of water in only 18 hours. 

When Do Mosquitoes Come Out?

One of the easiest ways to prevent mosquito bites is knowing when mosquitoes are most active. For most species, this is in the evening and early morning, right before sunrise and sunset. This will not completely eliminate the possibility of running into mosquitoes, but it is less likely during this time. 

Mosquitoes are active at night because they like to avoid the sun, which dehydrates them. They aim to stay out of direct sun, and will stick to humid, shady spots when they’re out during the day. This is why you may get mosquito bites during daylight hours in heavily forested, marshy, or swampy areas. 

Bonus tip: Avoid mosquitoes during a full moon. The full moon can increase mosquito activity up to 500 percent! This connection comes from the full moon bringing higher tides, leading to more standing water in the soil. 

The Best Mosquito Control in Fort Lauderdale

This article has covered some great mosquito control tips, and now we’re onto the best tip for effective mosquito control: hiring a professional mosquito control company. At Native Pest Management, we know how difficult it can be to have your backyard swarmed with mosquitoes, when it should be a place to relax and spend time with loved ones. 

Our monthly mosquito control plan can make your lawn an oasis again. We use pet friendly and eco friendly mist application and biological larvicides to keep mosquitoes far away from your home, preventing them from breeding. 

With mosquito control in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Tallahassee and their surrounding areas, we can guarantee that our services are effective. If the results aren’t what they should be, we will re-service your yard at no charge. 

As a top-rated mosquito control company in Florida, we’re confident that we can get rid of the mosquitoes in your yard completely! Within a few months, you’ll be able to sit back and relax in your yard without worrying about mosquito bites. 

If you’re ready for your home to be mosquito free, sign up for professional mosquito control today!