Mosquitoes

18 Feb 2016

There are over 300 different individual species of mosquitoes within Australia. Mosquitoes are bloodsucking and blood seeking insects that are responsible for the transmission of several different diseases throughout the world and Australia for humans and animals alike. As well as transmitting and carrying diseases mosquitoes can cause enormous irritation with their persistent biting to all Australians who love the outdoors in the warmer climates and warmer months.

Among some of the diseases that are transmitted by Australian mosquitoes include Dengue fever, Murray Valley encephalitis, and possibly most commonly known is the Ross River Fever. Ross River Fever is a recurring disease that has an incredible list of symptoms ranging from rashes and high fevers to arthritis. This disease can re-occur and last for years and years. Ross River Fever occurs in all states including Tasmania.

Mosquitoes are related to flies; they belong to a group of insects called Culicidae. Mosquitoes love to live in warm, moist environments and the female mosquito has a lifespan of around three weeks with the male mosquito slightly shorter. Female mosquitoes are attracted by a variety of stimuli that include body odours, heat and air movement, and carbon dioxide. After probing the skin to locate blood they inject in their saliva which contains an anticlotting chemical that can restrict blood clotting to occur. They will, if they are allowed, enjoy a long meal and leave the victim quite itchy. After they have enjoyed their feast of blood and have mated with their chosen male, the female will rest in a secluded place to digest her meal and develop her eggs so that she can at some point in the future find a moist, warm environment to deposit her eggs.

After around two weeks her eggs will hatch to form young wrigglers and in another two weeks, depending on the conditions and the food available, they will transform again into a tumbler after which around two days they will become  juvenile mosquitoes ready to continue the cycle once more.

Mosquitoes in the right environment are extremely hard to control; however, there are a number of methods that are used with varying degrees of success. The most effective method to prevent mosquitoes from biting you is to dress appropriately and wear a repellent while outdoors. This will not give you 100% guarantee that you will not be accessible to bites from mosquitoes; however, prevention is better than cure.

Mosquitoes need water to have a successful breeding cycle and therefore if you can minimise the amount of water that is open to them then you will have some degree of success in minimising their numbers. Places that you may not think mosquitoes will hatch out their larvae are places like the bottom  of pot plants, old tyres that can trap rainwater, rainwater tanks themselves and anywhere that water can lay for the required period of time to hatch out the wrigglers.

As summer approaches it is wise to do a check around your yard and property to see if there are ways that you can minimise possible mosquito breeding areas. With your pot plant dishes, replace the water regularly to interrupt their cycle. Turn any container that can hold water upside down or if possible drill a hole to allow water to escape. Clean your downpipes to prevent water lying in after rain. Fill in puddles after rain also if possible.

Your indoors is something that you can have a greater degree of control over in relation to minimising mosquito activity. It is certainly much easier to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home by ensuring that you have adequate fly screens and fly screen doors installed and that they are in good condition. Another tip is to install automatic door closes so that the doors are closed after every entry and exit. Small children are always in a hurry and quite often exit or enter and leave the door open allowing an easy entry to bloodsucking and disease-carrying mosquitoes. Using a safe insecticide spray if mosquitoes are detected, and then closing all screen doors, particularly prior to sleeping, can ensure a good result and a good night’s sleep. There can be no more irritating sound then the buzz of a mosquito while you are in the quiet of the evening and trying to sleep. Mosquitoes love the dark and a quiet place to feast.

Seconline is an online website created to allow people to purchase their fly screens and fly screen doors as well as re-mesh kits, locks and a host of additional products that may help to minimise mosquitoes from entering your home. For more information you can call 1300 735 405 or visit the website www.seconline.com.au.

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