Mosquitoes prefer stagnant water to lay their eggs. If your home has a pond or is near marshes, swamps or other wetland habitats then you may find you have mosquito problems. However, mosquitoes can easily survive and thrive even outside their natural habitats.
Hot and humid environments are best for mosquito growth and survival. Mosquito larvae can be found in a variety of habitats including flood water, ditches, and even pools.
Mosquitoes and Water
The relationship between mosquitoes and water is different than other insects. In general, aquatic animals either live in water but get oxygen from the air or live in water and get oxygen from the water. Mosquitoes fall into the first category; they live in water but make trips to the water’s surface to expel carbon dioxide and get oxygen.
Water provides mosquitoes with a place to lay eggs, grow and develop throughout their life stages: egg, larval and pupal. Once the female mosquitoes reach the airborne portion of their lives they will eventually return to the water to lay new eggs. They usually lay eggs in stagnant water where it can rise over the eggs and stimulate them to hatch.
Mosquito Breeding Cycle
Mosquito breeding usually occurs within days of the female leaving the water source and taking her first blood. While the eggs must be placed in a water source, the actual breeding cycle doesn’t necessarily have to happen near a water source.
How to Prevent Mosquito Breeding on Your Property
You can prevent mosquitoes from breeding around your home by dumping any stagnant water like buckets or cans. If you store water on your property in a rain bucket or things of that nature, you can easily buy or make mosquito nets to cover them. You can also purchase mosquito dunks to kill larvae that have already been planted in wet areas in your yard.
