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Although it's natural for most of us to reach for a spray can when we hear that familiar high-pitched buzz, going “green” with our bug repellents is both better for us and the environment. Using plants to repel or discourage mosquitoes from attacking bare summer skin is easy, once you know which of Mother Nature’s... more »
There's no better way to admire sparrows, robins and jays than watching them frolic around in a water-filled birdbath, right in the middle of your backyard. Birdbaths are beautiful garden centerpieces, but they also serve a good purpose: Birds need water, and in exchange, they'll offer you lots of color, sound and activity. With just... more »
No one likes mosquito bites, but mosquitoes are almost impossible to get rid of. If you've tried bug sprays, citronella candles and torches and still find yourself being bitten in your own backyard, it's time to take action. Follow these steps and you will drastically decrease the number of mosquitos in your yard. Here's how to have a... more »
Attracting birds to your garden can be as simple as adding a small bird feeder and a regular supply of water. The benefits of attracting feathered friends to your garden are twofold: they will help to keep away unwanted bugs, such as mosquitoes and other insects that may attack your plants, and you have the added benefit of being... more »
The warm, airy months of summer make many people want to spend more time outdoors. It's not just great weather driving us into the great outdoors. Having a versatile outdoor living room is a great space solution when entertaining during the warmer months. Also, your new outdoor living room could add value to your home. Take a walk... more »
Mosquitos are annoying at best and can sometimes carry dangerous diseases at worst. Rather than lather yourself with bug spray and other... more »
For a new twist in gardening, consider creating a water garden. Water gardens can be extremely enjoyable and relaxing with the calming sound of... more »
Manure tea is a homemade garden fertilizer similar to compost teas. To make it, manure is soaked in water to concentrate the nutrients. There are... more »
Frogs and toads are wonderful additions to any garden. They eat an amazing number of insect pests, including slugs and snails. However, if you are... more »
With the onset of summer, it is not all fun and games. Humid summer nights can lure in bugs such as flies and mosquitos, who feed on the... more »
Mosquito and mosquita (from the Spanish meaning little fly at dictionary.com.) is a common insect in the family Culicidae (from the Latin culex meaning midge or gnat at dictionary.com.). Mosquitoes resemble crane flies (family Tipulidae) and chironomid flies (family Chironomidae), with which they are sometimes confused by the casual observer.
Mosquitoes go through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult or imago. Adult females lay their eggs in water, which can be a salt-marsh, a lake, a puddle, a natural reservoir on a plant, or an artificial water container such as a plastic bucket. The first three stages are aquatic and last 5–14 days, depending on the species and the ambient temperature; eggs hatch to become larvae, then pupae. The adult mosquito emerges from the pupa as it floats at the water surface. Adult females can live up to a month – more in captivity – but most probably do not live more than 1–2 weeks in nature.
Mosquitoes have mouthparts which are adapted for piercing the skin of plants and animals. They typically feed on nectar and plant juices. In some species, the female needs to obtain nutrients from a "blood meal" before she can produce eggs.
There are about 3,500 species of mosquitoes found throughout the world. In some species of mosquito, the females feed on humans, and are therefore vectors for a number of infectious diseases affecting millions of people per year. – The American Mosquito Control Association. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
Larva
Mosquito larvae have a well-developed head with mouth brushes used for feeding, a large thorax with no legs and a segmented abdomen.
Larvae breathe through spiracles located on the eighth abdominal segment, or through a siphon, and therefore must come to the surface frequently. The larvae spend most of their time feeding on algae, bacteria, and other micro-organisms in the surface microlayer. They dive below the surface only when disturb read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito
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