There is much to love about Florida. Sunny days, gorgeous beaches, and blue water are all conducive to outdoor gatherings with family and friends. Unfortunately, this also exposes you to one of nature's most annoying pests, the mosquito.
Due to the warm, wet weather, mosquitoes can be found nearly year-round in [city]. However, the “Official Mosquito Season” is also the rainy season running from June to October. They thrive during this time of year and are most active during dusk and dawn when out searching for food.
Females need the protein from blood to produce eggs and they’re relentless in the search for a source. These bites can cause more than just itchy welts. Mosquitoes can pass on dangerous diseases to humans and pets. Such as the Zika Virus, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, and West Nile Virus, as well as heartworms in dogs and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in horses.
Mosquito Facts
- They have been around for over 100 million years.
- There are over 2700 species of which 176 species live in the US.
- Only females bite, they need protein from blood to produce eggs.
- Females lay 100 - 300 eggs at a time which over a lifetime equals 1,000 to 3,000.
- Mosquitoes go from egg to biting adults in 4-7 days.
- They are attracted by infrared radiation (warm bodies) and by chemical signals we give off such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid.
- Mosquitoes find you by sight and are attracted by your movements.
- A few types of mosquitoes will only fly a few yards from where they hatched to feed. More typically adults will fly a mile or two.