Fun Facts | Mysite 1

- - - Fun Facts - - -

Ok - - There is nothing fun about mosquitoes but read on!!

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January 2020

I bet you wonder where mosquitoes go during cold weather. Well, maybe there are other things you are thinking about, but read on!

Most mosquitoes usually disappear when cold weather comes our way, but they don't go away for long. They have several ways to get through the cold weather.

A lot species of mosquitoes are killed off when the weather turns freezing, leaving only eggs which lie on the ground, until the warmer temperatures and rain come along so they may hatch and produce a new generation. Except in the warmest part of their range, these adult mosquitoes only live during the summer.

Mosquitoes that belong to the genera Culiseta, Culex and Anopheles, go to sleep for the winter, also known as hibernating, and so do some other less common types in Ohio and other areas where cold weather makes a habit of returning each year.

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February 2020

The mosquito is nothing if not resilient. Based on fossil evidence, scientists say the current mosquito we have today is practically unchanged from 46 million years ago. That means it lived through the ice age of 2.5 million years ago—unscathed.

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-- Fun facts for March 2020 --

Now is the time of the year to inspect your home and property. Look for any areas where water may lay for more than 3 days after a rain. If found, fill those areas so it does not allow mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Look for any type of container which may collect rain water and either throw away or empty the water which it is holding. In a small water cap a mosquito may 400 or more eggs! If everyone would just take the time and rid their properties of such things it would make less mosquito problems! One last hint, check your gutters to see if there are any debris collecting, such as leaves. This is an area that mosquitoes love to breed and lay their eggs.

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- June 2019 -

Homeowners frequently call the District to report mosquito problems. In many instances what appears to be a mosquito is actually another type of insect. The below insects are the insects most commonly mistaken to be mosquitoes. None of these insects bite or carry diseases in Valley County, but many can still be annoying. Many of these hatch in very large numbers and are attracted to lights around the home.

Midges (Chironomidae) are the most wide spread and numerous insects resembling mosquitoes. Adult Midges are commonly observed flying in swarms or "clouds", or are seen resting on fences, walls, under eaves and in protected areas such as porches and entryways. Individual adults will live about seven days depending upon the species and weather conditions. The larvae develop in sources having extensive areas of standing water
Meniscus Midges (Dixidae) are common around moist areas where vegetation is abundant and may be seen swarming at dusk along the edges of streams and lakes. The adults are short lived, usually being active less than a week. The larvae are found in slow moving water, at the surface, and swim in a characteristic "U" shape.
Wood Gnats (Anisopodidae) larvae are found in or near decaying vegetation, fermenting sap, animal manure, tree trunks, mud and sometimes sewage. Adults are found on foliage in or near damp places, some are found around flowing sap. They are sometimes seen in small swarms.
Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are quite abundant in Valley County near creeks, streams, irrigation canals, and other water sources. Their larvae are found in most aquatic habitats and can live in moving water.
Crane Flies (Tipulidae) are delicate insects varying in size from 1/4 inch to as large as 1 1/2 inches in length. The largest crane flies are sometimes called "daddy-long-legs", "gully nippers", or "mosquito hawks". They do not bite people and they do not eat mosquitoes. Some species of crane flies emerge from aquatic sources and others from terrestrial or decaying vegetation sources.

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- July 2019 -

Why are Mosquitoes Attracted to Me???????

Some people produce more of certain chemicals in their skin.

Depending on the type of blood you have, you secrete different scents. Studies have shown that mosquitoes are most attracted to Type O blood and least attracted to Type A. No changing your blood type either. Also, Lactic acid is emitted through your skin when you are active or eating certain foods and that also attracts mosquitoes to get a blood meal from you!

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- August 2019 -

This may not be 100% accurate as we haven’t asked any mosquitoes what their favorite film is, but like Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in the hit film from the 80s mosquitoes have their own unique dance. Before mating, mosquitoes engage in a sort of dance which involves beating their wings in a call-and-response type of manner.

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- September 2019 -

Do mosquitoes sleep at night?

Some are more active during the day, and others come out more at night. Some mosquito species in the genus Aedes are active during the day, and they tend to bite humans aggressively during these hours, particularly in the morning and late afternoon.

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- October 2019 -

Where are there no mosquitoes?

There are not many places in the world mosquitoes don't populate. Antarctica is mosquito free, and new research suggests there are no mosquitoes in Iceland, New Caledonia, the Central Pacific Islands and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.

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- November, 2019 -

Mosquitoes Have Benefited Science

The design of their proboscis has inspired scientists to design less-painful hypodermic needles, examine strategies to make needle insertion easier, and create insertion guides to better place tiny electrodes into the brain.

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- December 2019 -

No matter what types of diseases mosquitoes and other biting insects have afflicted on us humans lets just take time to enjoy this Holiday Season!!!

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