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How to Prevent Mosquitoes
Practical steps and proactive measures on how to minimise mosquito breeding on your property.
Mosquito Species
Many species of mosquitoes exist all around the world. Female mosquitoes are responsible for the frustrating bites we suffer. We also need to be careful, as these bites can carry fatal diseases. Learn more about the characteristics (including lifecycles and habits) of different mosquito species below.
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Aedes Mosquitoes
(Aedes Aegypti and Aedes albopictus)
The bites from an Aedes mosquito peak at twilight and it bites throughout the day.
Appearance
- Adult has white markings on thorax and legs.
- Larval rest 45 degree from the surface of the water.
- Egg is black in colour and shape like a rugby ball.
Life cycle
- Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 8 days.
- Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.
Habits
- Habitat – container breeder especially man-made containers with clean water.
- Prefer darker colours like black and red.
- Can fly short distance (50 – 100m).
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Anopheles Mosquito
(Anopheles SPP.)
Appearance
- Adult – pale and dark marks on its wings and resting 45 degree angle to the surface.
- Larval rest parallel to surface of the water.
- Egg is about 1mm long and has floats on its sides.
Life cycle
- Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 10 days.
- Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.
Habits
- Habitat – prefer clean and unpolluted water.
- Biting rhythm – bite at night and rest indoor and outdoor (depends on species).
- Prefer darker colours.
- Female with one blood meal can lay 50 – 150 eggs.
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Culex Mosquito
(Culex SPP.)
Appearance
- Adult – thorax, legs and veins on the wings are always covered with brown scales. Dull in colour. The tip of the abdomen is always blunt.
- Larval rest 45 degree from the surface of the water.
- Egg is brown, long and cylindrical, vertical on water surface, cemented in a raft of 300 eggs. Raft usually 3 – 4mm long and 2 – 3mm wide.
Life cycle
- Egg to adult stage takes 6 – 10 days.
- Complete metamorphosis – egg, larval, pupa and adult.
Habits
- Habitat – mainly breed in polluted stagnant water and drains.
- Biting rhythm – bite at night and usually rest indoor before and after the blood meal. Sometimes they may rest outdoor.
- Prefer darker colours.
- Long distance fliers.