Information on How to identify Mosquitos
In recent years mosquitos have become a growing health problem that can be potentially fatal. Everyone in their lifetime has come into contact with a mosquito and will again therefore it is important to be educated on how to identify them in order to prevent future infections.
The Life Cycle and Growth of Every Mosquito
Mosquitos are blood-sucking winged insects that need blood to survive and to produce offspring. Different species of mosquitos are attracted to different hosts, and different species of female mosquitos lay eggs in different ways. Basic characteristics of a mosquito are identification of their small winged form, their long thin legs, and their equally as long piercing mouths. Humans and animals are prime targets because they exhibit behaviors that mosquitos are attracted to and need in order to survive. Such attractions for mosquitos include body heat, movement, carbon dioxide such as an exhaled breath along with moisture, and lactic acid. After landing on a target, a mosquito will use their elongated mouth to pierce the skin, and extract blood, resulting in a small red welt that itches.
Though different species of female mosquitos produce and lay eggs differently, where and when newly laid eggs hatch can easily be narrowed down in order to be understood. It is a myth that mosquitos need standing water in order to hatch. Certain female species will lay their eggs on a moist surface, often soil, and then the eggs must dry. Only after this drying period happens can the eggs be hatched after coming into contact with water yet again. This means that the eggs may take days before they hatch. Other species need to lay their eggs directly in water, or the eggs dry out and will not hatch. For these species the time between laying the eggs and the eggs hatching can happen in the span of a single day. From here the baby mosquito will stay in the water and grow from larvae stage, to pupae stage, and finally move on into the adult stages. Depending on the species, a mosquito can live from a week and a half to several months.
Different Types of Mosquitos and the Diseases They Carry
The main three species that live in the INDIA are of the genus culex, anopheles, and aedes. Identification of these specific species can help you understand your risks to the specific diseases and health problems each one potentially carries.
A mosquito of the genus culex, a pest that is most likely to be found in your home, and can. be fatal to the young and elderly, and can cause flu like symptoms, upper body stiffness, and muscle weakness in others. In order to identify this insect properly, look for its brown body with white markings on its legs and mouth, and like most mosquitoes, it prefers to feed around dusk.
A mosquito of the genus anopheles is a potential carrier of malaria which causes flu like symptoms, anemia, and can be fatal without treatment. It is incorrect to believe that malaria can only be contracted in Africa, as these mosquitoes can also be found all across India. These mosquitoes are also brown in color with white markings on their wings.
Lastly, the genus aedes is a potential carrier of dengue fever, which can cause acute joint pain, and of heartworm, which is potentially fatal to house pets. To check to see if you may have an infestation of this particular mosquito look for white markings on the thorax, or the section of the body between the head and abdomen and if feeding happens more often during the day than at night.
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