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There are about 3,000 kinds of mosquitoes worldwide, and about 175 of them are in the United States. Most prefer to bite large mammals or birds — not humans. Still, insights to help you protect your customers include:
⦁ Adult mosquitoes rest in areas that are cool, dark, damp and out of the wind. Concentrate control efforts in these places.
⦁ Most mosquito species bite during the evening, but some bite during the day. Ask your customers where and when they’re being bitten, which provides clues for control options.
⦁ Mosquitoes breed in anything that holds water. Look carefully during inspections, because even a small breeding site can produce thousands of hungry mosquitoes.
⦁ Controlling container-breeding mosquitoes requires a significant source reduction effort. In addition to adult control, breeding sites must be dried, removed or treated.
Dr. Stan Cope is Director, Entomology and Regulatory Services, Terminix International.
