Mosquitoes

What do mosquitoes look like?

Mosquito larvae can be found living and developing in areas of still, standing water. They have large heads and thoraxes, and worm-like abdomens. The mosquito larvae move throughout the water in a distinctive wiggly manner. Adult mosquitoes have very narrow bodies, long, thin legs, transparent wings, and long proboscises that they use to draw liquids from their food sources. They are fairly small in size, growing to be between 1/4 and 3/8 of an inch in length. Their bodies are gray with white stripes on their abdomens and are covered in iridescent scales that are silver, green, or blue.

Where are mosquitoes found?

Areas of standing water around Quad City properties attract large populations of mosquitoes. This is because areas of standing water, either small or large, are where the females lay their eggs and the larvae develop into adults. Examples of standing water that attract mosquitoes include:

• The edges of streams, lakes, and ponds
• Wading pools
• Old tires
• Wheelbarrows
• Piles of trash
• Bird baths
• Clogged gutters
• Tarps

Mosquitoes are most active in the spring, summer, and early fall months. While some species of mosquitoes are active all day long, others can be found resting in tall grasses and dense vegetation during the day when it’s hottest. They leave their hiding spots to feed at both dawn and dusk.

What do mosquitoes eat? 

Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar and plant juices. However, it is only the female that bites in order to feed on blood, as she requires the protein that is found in blood to create her eggs. Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance, they can carry and transmit a good number of diseases and pathogens to both people and animals. Examples include the West Nile virus, the Zika virus, Chikungunya fever, canine heartworm, and malaria.