Are There A Lot of Mosquitoes in Texas?
You would be surprised to know that there are about 85 species of mosquitos found in Texas. This is based on mosquito trapping and literature done by the Agricultural and Environmental Safety Unit personnel.
What are The Types of Mosquitoes in Texas?
85 species have been identified in Texas and there are four common types of Texas mosquitos.
Aedes Aegypti (Yellow Fever Mosquito)
Yellow Fever mosquito is often found along the coasts of Texas. This is the Texas mosquito that could breed inside your home. Common breeding sites include pails, flower pot plates and trays, ornamental vases, plants, and canvas sheets. It is capable of biting anyone throughout the day. It has been known that it is the transmitter of Zika Virus and dengue fever.
Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes Albopictus)
House Mosquito (Culex)
Southern Mosquito (Culex Quinquefasciatus)
Also known as Culex fatigans, this is the most common type of mosquito that shares similar attributes of a house mosquito. It often hunts during the night and carries diseases such as the St.Louis Encephalitis virus and West Nile Virus.
Signs of Texas Mosquito Infestation and What Attracts Them to Your Home
Texas mosquitos needs moist, warm climates and water to thrive. Hence, it makes the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex a haven for mosquitoes with its sub-tropic, warm climate. Here are other signs that your home is infested with mosquitoes:
● Bite marks on your skin.
These bites could either be mild irritation to severe inflammation and swelling.
● Presence of stagnant water.
Mosquitoes are attracted to places with standing water as it’s the ideal breeding ground for female mosquitoes. And they can lay hundreds of eggs all at once!
● Flower bed or areas with damp soil.
Your yard could hold enough moisture to attract female mosquitoes and breed in that area. It will lay its nest in areas with the soft and moist ground where depression forms.
● Shaded areas in your home.
Besides stagnant water, mosquitoes also prefer to be in cold and shaded places.
● You find them hovering over your food.
As mentioned, male mosquitoes feed on plant nectars. Although this is the main source of food for male Texas mosquito, female mosquitoes also feed on them.
● You’re scratching during the middle of the night.
Mentioned before, there are mosquitoes that are night-feeders so you end up scratching at night.
What is Mosquito Season in Texas?
The mosquito season in Dallas / Fort Worth begins around March 15th and ends on April 1st. However, most of our clients ask for help with Texas mosquito control up until October 1st or when the cold weather comes.
Why are there so many mosquitoes in Texas?
Every summer everyone wants to know why there are so many mosquitoes in Texas. So are mosquitoes bad in Texas? The simple answer is yes, but the real question is why?
From temperature to climate to vegetation, there’s a variety of reasons why Texas is heaven for mosquitoes.
Subtropical climate:
Mosquitoes love to live in areas with humid conditions and warm temperatures. As a subtropical region, Texas maintains a hot and humid temperature in the spring and summer, and some of fall too. Winters are not as severe like those in other areas of the country, and so that helps to contribute to the perfect place for mosquitoes to live and breed.
Moisture:
Besides the climate, Texas has ample moisture to attract the mosquitoes. The moisture and water are the lifeblood for Texas mosquitoes and aid in their breeding process. With an annual rainfall of 27 inches, the region produces sufficient moisture to meet mosquito needs.
Also, humidity is attractive for mosquito in Texas. That’s why we see many mosquitoes in the regions where humidity is the highest.
Lakes and rivers:
It’s well-known that mosquitoes love stagnant water. They need water to drink but also to lay eggs to continue their life cycle.
Texas has over seven thousand lakes and rivers including Lake Travis, Texoma, Canyon, and Lady Bird Lake. Not to mention the coastal regions of Texas.
This means there’s plenty of water in Texas which makes it appealing for every species of mosquitoes.
Food source:
While unpleasant, female mosquitoes need human blood as it is a primary source of their food. And they need lots of nutrients as they use energy to lay their eggs.
According to the US Census Bureau, Texas has over 29 million residents in the region. This is why you’ll see mosquitoes in densely populated areas and not just in the country.
How long does a Texas mosquito live?
Temperature:
Mosquitoes can live their expected lifespan only if the temperature is between 50-80-degree Fahrenheit. They do not acclimate to cold temperatures.
Mosquitoes are cold-blooded and may not even survive a week if the temperature is below 40-degree Fahrenheit.
Gender:
It may surprise you that female mosquitoes can live up to 56 days but the lifespan of male mosquitoes is just 10 days.
Why? Male mosquitoes collect food for the female mosquitoes while they breed. Thus, females get more food and can shelter more safely than their male counterparts. Since males are more active, they are more prone to predators – human and otherwise.
Predators:
For most mosquitoes, the real predators are humans. No, a mosquito does not die right after “biting” or more accurately feeding off of you. Mosquitoes can live up to three weeks even after a biting human being.
If a mosquito is unable to acquire food because there are no humans or animals to prey on, or they are repelled by chemicals then they just simply go hungry and die.
Water:
No doubt that water is the most essential thing for a mosquito in Texas. However, they only need water until they grow into a complete adult. In adulthood, mosquitoes can easily survive up to two months without water.
The exception here is female mosquitoes thrive on the water as they need it to lay an egg every three days of their life.
Nectar:
Female mosquitoes only drink nectar (fluid from plants) to survive especially when they hibernate in Winter.
Interestingly, they can survive without food for over six months but can die within four days without nectar. Male mosquitoes only survive up to two days without food.
Texas mosquitoes are prolific breeders and are difficult to get rid of. If you are bothered by mosquitos in and around your home, you’ll want to call SafePro Pest Control.
How do I treat my yard for mosquitoes?
Remove standing water:
Now you know how important water is to mosquito in Texas. Any stagnant water in your yard becomes a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. You’ll want to make sure you remove any standing water from your property from sources like abandoned tires, plants, gutters, bird baths, and more.
If mosquitoes are unable to lay eggs, the less likely they are to reproduce and increase the population.
Use mosquito repellents:
Mosquito repellents are just one of the DIY mosquito solutions for you and your home. From plants to candles, various repellents will discourage mosquitos and create a temporary reprieve from mosquitos.
Some plants are known to have mosquito repellent properties such as catmint, rosemary, lavender, and lemon balm. You can plant these around your yard and patios to help discourage mosquitoes from hanging around.
Maintain your yard:
Mosquitoes may like warm and humid climates but they cannot survive direct sunlight. Tall grasses and vegetation in your yard and garden offer the perfect place to hide for mosquitoes. That’s why we recommend cutting overgrown grass and keeping your yard trimmed to prevent a mosquito infestation.
You should also trim other unnecessary plants, trees, or weeds to discourage mosquitoes.
Keep in mind these DIY mosquito control methods only offer a temporary solution to get rid of mosquitoes.SafePro Pest Control offers professional pest control solutions to keep mosquitoes away from your property permanently.
Click the button below and sign up now to get a call back from our experienced mosquito exterminators.
Mosquito Larvae and Mosquito Life Cycle
Once a mosquito hatches its eggs in water, they become mosquito larvae. All mosquitoes undergo four different stages — egg, larva, pupa and adult. Those various stages compose the life cycle of a mosquito that usually takes about a month.
Egg
Once the female mosquito feeds blood from a human, she is ready to lay her eggs in a single or side by side manner near stagnant water or damp soil. The eggs are laid forming a raft that keeps afloat in the water. In a raft, there are about 100-400 eggs laid.
Larva
One week after the eggs are hatched, they become mosquito larvae or wigglers. They look like tiny hairy worms wiggling their way inside the water. They are about ¼ inch long with a round head and an abdomen with 10 segments.
They usually live in water for about 4-14 days or even longer. It usually depends on the temperature and water surface. The larva will molt four times and grow bigger after every molt. By the last molt, it will grow about ½-inch long.
Pupa
When the larva undergoes its final molt, it becomes a pupa or also called a “tumbler”. It dives and swims when the light changes hence its term. The pupa will thrive in the water for one to four days depending on the water temperature and its species.
Adult
Once it gets off its pupal casing, the adult mosquito emerges on the water surface up until its body and wings are dry. By then, the adult mosquito can fly and live for about 3-4 weeks. That is why Safe Pro Pest Control visits clients with mosquito problems every 3 weeks.
Why are there so many mosquitoes in Texas?
Every summer everyone wants to know why there are so many mosquitoes in Texas. So are mosquitoes bad in Texas? The simple answer is yes, but the real question is why?
From temperature to climate to vegetation, there’s a variety of reasons why Texas is heaven for mosquitoes.
Subtropical climate:
Mosquitoes love to live in areas with humid conditions and warm temperatures. As a subtropical region, Texas maintains a hot and humid temperature in the spring and summer, and some of fall too. Winters are not as severe like those in other areas of the country, and so that helps to contribute to the perfect place for mosquitoes to live and breed.
Moisture:
Besides the climate, Texas has ample moisture to attract the mosquitoes. The moisture and water are the lifeblood for Texas mosquitoes and aid in their breeding process. With an annual rainfall of 27 inches, the region produces sufficient moisture to meet mosquito needs.
Also, humidity is attractive for mosquito in Texas. That’s why we see many mosquitoes in the regions where humidity is the highest.
Lakes and rivers:
It’s well-known that mosquitoes love stagnant water. They need water to drink but also to lay eggs to continue their life cycle.
Texas has over seven thousand lakes and rivers including Lake Travis, Texoma, Canyon, and Lady Bird Lake. Not to mention the coastal regions of Texas.
This means there’s plenty of water in Texas which makes it appealing for every species of mosquitoes.
Food source:
While unpleasant, female mosquitoes need human blood as it is a primary source of their food. And they need lots of nutrients as they use energy to lay their eggs.
According to the US Census Bureau, Texas has over 29 million residents in the region. This is why you’ll see mosquitoes in densely populated areas and not just in the country.
Anti-mosquito Products: To Buy or Not to Buy?
What Can I spray in My Yard For Mosquitoes?
Now, how about the mosquito sprays?
Those are ineffective for the main reason that they won’t be able to reach the bottom areas of the leaves and bushes. And mosquitoes live under those leaves and not on top!
The problem with most DIYers is that they’re making their own poisoning issues. Mosquito pest control experts use natural and synthetic treatments that aren’t harmful to humans but can kill mosquitoes.
On the other hand, DIYers spray and can cause cross-contamination by tracking in poison on their shoes and hands. They don’t have the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when they come in contact with those sprays, unlike pest control experts from Safe Pro Pest Control.
How Can SafePro Pest Control Get Rid of Mosquitoes?
Solution #1 Backpack Fogger
Solution #2 In-2-Care
This product is slowly gaining popularity as it was created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The tool attracts pregnant female mosquitoes inside the device. Once mosquitoes are inside, they come in contact with a specially treated gauze contaminated with larvicide and fungus.
Given the fact that Aedes mosquitoes like to lay their eggs over different sides, the device lets the mosquitoes fly out of the trap whilst carrying larvicide on their legs. They contaminate different breeding sites with larvicide and that’s how larvae get killed in hard to find breeding grounds. The pregnant mosquito also gets infected with the fungus that will eventually kill her before she starts spreading diseases.
Safe Pro is committed to offering you the quality service you expect and deserve. We found a way to help minimize mosquito issues by switching up our In2care mosquito treatment process. Due to excessive heat and humidity evaporating the water in the In2care bucket, it requires servicing stations every 3 weeks instead of every four weeks for best results.
Our treatments include:
- Servicing In2care stations and replenishing the water in the trap along with the new refill.
- Adding larvicide to all drains.
- Dumping any standing water and making recommendations to help avoid future mosquito issues.
- Treatments will be done every three weeks.
Solution #3 Mist-Away Mosquito Fogging Misting Tank
It is one of the most rewarding and most effective ways for mosquito control. It’s a daily mist that you can work on your own. All you have to do is go outside and press a button and the Mist-Away Mosquito Fogging Misting Tank works like a sprinkler system. In as fast as 15 minutes, all mosquitoes will be dead.
Safe Pro Pest Control can do the installation of the tank that you buy from us. Installation includes the lines, tanks, and filters. We will set the timer for the daily mist at your preferred time. For most of our clients, they prefer that the timer be set to midnight, 3 am and 6 am. That’s when people are asleep and less likely to go outside.
But the work of Safe Pro Pest Control doesn’t stop there. We make it a point to get your Mist-Away Mosquito Fogging Misting Tank checked every month. We also clean the nozzles, refill the tank and make sure everything is up and running.
If you have questions or want to know more about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are more than happy to provide you more information.
Why Get Safe Pro Pest Control for Mosquito Pest Control?
We Don’t Do Contracts On This Type Of Service.
We don’t force clients into staying with us, unlike most companies. If we fog and you still have a problem, we know the problem isn’t in your yard. The problem comes from your neighbor’s mosquitoes.
We’re Very Detail-Oriented!
You will find that our level of expertise and knowledge is top-notch! Our team checks all sources for mosquitoes because we know where to look for. Our years of experience also taught us to do a very thorough check and treatment for all potential sources of mosquitoes and larvae.
Experience Makes A Big Difference.
One of our clients who was amazed by how many larvae we were able to kill under one fence post. And most DIYers would never have expected to find larvae in a fence post!
Our Team Wears The Right PPE.
From the clothing and equipment, our service technicians wear special shoe protection and gear. That’s a guarantee that there’s no cross-contamination!
Our Fogging Service Is The Best And SAFE For Humans.
We have the fogging service that can penetrate inside dense bushes and under the leaves where most mosquitoes hide. And it’s totally safe for humans! The products we use are enough to kill mosquitoes and aren’t toxic to humans after it dries. After the product is dry it is safe for humans to go outside.
We Come Out On A Schedule.
If you miss out on doing the spray every 3 weeks, a whole new batch of mosquitoes will be in your home. That is something you don’t want to happen. Again, don’t worry. We know when’s the right time to come to your place and get it treated.
Our treatments include:
- Fogging property using the best products on the market.
- Adding larvicide to drains.
- Dumping any standing water and making recommendations to help avoid future mosquito issues.
- Treatment will be done every 3 weeks.
- Warranty will be provided!
- We will come back to retreat if mosquito issue continues every 7-10 days as needed. No additional cost or hidden fee.
Mosquito Control Information
The earlier we start in the season to treat the better the results will be. Consistency is key.
During the appointment, please remain indoors with pets. We recommend allowing 1 hour before entering the treatment area.
Our treatments include:
-Fogging property and using the best products on the market.
-Add larvicide to drains.
-Dump any standing water and make recommendations to help avoid future mosquito
issues.
What to expect after treatment:
-Upon completion, any remaining larvae and mosquitoes will die, so there will be a noticeable improvement.
-75% of clients experience a huge improvement and love this service.
-15% of clients notice a major decrease in mosquito numbers and are satisfied.
-10% of clients notice slight to no improvement due to conducive conditions on property
and neighboring properties. Due to this, we offer a warranty on all services.
-We can minimize mosquito issues by eliminating up to 75% of the mosquito population.
Please keep in mind they are flying insects, and it will never be 100% controlled.
Examples of conducive conditions:
*Clogged gutters
*Missing caps on metal fence posts
*Flower pot bases with standing water, bird baths, or anything that collects water
*Knots in trees
*Grading of yard not allowing water to drain properly
*Buckets left upright
*French drains not draining properly
*Lakes,ponds, and creeks
A few tips and tricks to help prevent mosquito issues:
*Clean gutters yearly
*Make sure gutters drain properly
*Make sure all metal fence posts have caps
*Avoid over watering yard and flower pots
*Address drainage issues that cause standing water
*Remove anything that can possibly hold water from yard
*Keep the lawn maintained, trees and shrubs trimmed and brush removed.
*Chlorinate swimming pools, saunas, and hot tubs
We strongly recommend our mosquito treatment every three weeks for best results.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 85 species have been identified in Texas.
There are four common types of mosquitoes found in Texas namely the Aedes aegypti, Asian Tiger Mosquito, House Mosquito and the Southern Mosquito.
The mosquito season in Dallas/ Fort Worth begins around March 15th and ends on April 1.
Most experts advise the application of mosquito repellant regularly.
Mosquito pest control experts use natural and synthetic treatments that aren’t harmful to humans but can kill mosquitoes.
Yes, there are. Kill larvae by dumping out all stagnant water in your home. If you can’t get rid of the standing water, larvicide can be used.
Some of the diseases mosquitoes carry are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Zika virus, West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, and Dengue fever.
Safe Pro Pest Control provides larvicide and dumping water on all treatments. We kill larvae by dumping out standing water. If we can’t dump the water like in fence posts - where water can accumulate, heavy pots, drains, and other areas, we put larvicide. We put in areas we can’t dump water as well.