MOSQUITOES
Mosquitoes are commonly considered nuisance insects. For their eggs to successfully develop into larvae female mosquitoes must provide them with a source of protein; this protein acquired in the form of blood. Although all warm blooded creatures (mammals and birds) are fair game, our thin and relatively hairless human skin is especially appealing as an easy meal. When mosquitoes aren't blood feeding to support the development of healthy eggs, the adults feed off of plant nectars to fuel their flight. Of the 3,500 species of mosquitoes, only the females of 6% of those species bite humans.
While nobody likes mosquitoes they play a huge role is our ecosystem. Theyre a huge source of food for fish, small aquatic animals, dragonflies, bats, birds, and many many other creatures (some animals preying exclusively on mosquitoes). Believe it or not, they pollinate plants, as they feed from flower nectar (certain orchid species are pollinate solely by mosquitoes).
Most people think of mosquitoes only as insects that suck blood, but they have another niche in the ecosystem–they pollinate flowers. Many mosquitoes around the world pollinator small flowers!
Mosquitoes act as pollinators for grasses and a few other flowering plants. Their role in spreading pollen hasn’t been studied nearly as much as their role in drinking blood and spreading diseases. But the niche they’re best known for is pollination orchids, including the Blunt-leaved Bog Orchid (Habenaria obtusata, also called Platanthera obtusata), and other rare Arctic bog orchids.
Keep Mosquitoes Away
Please don't have a company spray your yard for mosquitoes. Evidence shows that fogging has almost no affect on mosquito populations and it kills honeybees and other pollinators, while is only 10-40% effective against adult mosquitoes, which have a lifespan of only one week and it does not kill mosquito larvae. There are better, more effective, ways to keep your yard free of mosquitoes.
Reduce Their Breeding Sites by Removing Standing Water:
Dispose of old tires, buckets, aluminum cans, plastic sheeting or other refuse that can hold water. Empty accumulated water from trash cans, boats, wheel barrows, pet dishes, and flower pot bottoms. If possible, turn these items over when they are not in use.
Clean debris from rain gutters and unclog obstructed downspouts. Clogged rain gutters are one of the most overlooked breeding sites for mosquitoes around homes. Remove any standing water on flat roofs or around structures. Repair leaking faucets and air conditioners that produce puddles for several days.
Change water in bird baths and wading pools at least once a week and keep swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated. Ornamental pools can be aerated or stocked with mosquito-eating fish. Aeration / water movement helps because mosquitoes prefer quiet, non-flowing water for egg-laying and development.
Fill or drain ditches and swampy areas, and other soil depressions and remove, drain, or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar or sealant to prevent accumulation of water. Eliminate standing water and seepage around animal watering troughs, cisterns, and septic tanks. Be sure that cistern screens are intact and that access covers fit tightly.
Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.
Hang Bat Houses or Bird Houses and make your yard a friendly place for other mosquito predators like dragonflies and frogs.
Grow Plants That Repel Mosquitoes: Rosemary, Marigolds, Lemon balm, Garlic, Lavender, Thyme, Lemon Grass, Catnip and Basil.
Install A Fan in your outdoor sitting area.
Get rid of mosquito larvae using cinnamon Oil to Kill Mosquito Larvae.
Larvicides containing spores or metabolites of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) (e.g., Mosquito Dunks, Mosquito Bits, Microbe-Lift, and other products) act as stomach poisons when ingested, killing larvae within a few days. Bti affects only fly larvae, so it won't harm predatory insects living in the pond or water feature.