Mosquitoes

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Despite their tiny stature, mosquitoes are among the biggest killers on the planet. They’re well-known as carriers of various diseases, including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, West Nile and Zika. Although malaria has several tried-and-tested medications to treat it and prevent it, the rest are generally a lot less treatable and a lot less preventable. Mosquito eradication is one of the best ways to prevent these diseases from rearing their ugly heads.

What Are Mosquitoes?

Mosquito literally means “little fly,” and it’s an unsurprising name. Although there are thousands of species in this family, not all feed on blood, and not all of those that feed on blood can transmit disease. Around 174 species exist in North America and Mexico, with the four most common being the house mosquito, the southern house mosquito, the Asian tiger mosquito and the yellow fever mosquito.

The male’s job for the species is to impregnate the female and die. As a result, it lacks the penetrative proboscis of the female, which has to survive a little bit longer to deliver her eggs. Typically, the female lays her eggs in water — as many as 100 to 200 during her lifetime. A successful breeding pair can create thousands of mosquitoes in very short order.