Mosquito Mythbusting

Mosquitoes are as common as hamburgers or bonfires at a Michigan backyard barbeque, but how much do you really know about mosquitoes? There are a lot of misconceptions and myths about mosquitoes. We’re separating the fact from fiction with some mosquito mythbusting.

Mosquitoes are an annoyance, but not a serious problem

False. According to scientists, mosquitoes kill more than 700,000 people globally each year making them the most dangerous animal on the planet by far. Mosquitoes here in Michigan do pose a small risk of West Nile Virus, EEE, and a handful of other diseases, but in warm, tropical climates mosquitoes pose a much bigger threat. Dengue, Chikungunya, and Malaria are all prevalent viruses in many areas and can cause severe illness and death.

Mosquitoes are only a problem for a few countries

False. While mosquitoes thrive and cause the most harm and destruction in warm, tropical climates, they inhabit nearly every country on Earth. Iceland is one of the very few places you can get away from the more than 3,000 species of mosquito that inhabit Earth. 

The mosquito diet consists mostly of blood

False. While it may seem like you’ve been made into a walking buffet when you encounter a swarm of mosquitoes, blood actually makes up a small part of the mosquito diet. Mosquitoes primarily eat nectar and other plant juices, but female mosquitoes rely on an enzyme found in blood for proper egg development.

All mosquitoes bite/drink blood

False. Only female mosquitoes bite. Female mosquitoes have a mouth structure designed specifically to pierce skin and females use the proteins and amino acids in blood in egg development.

Mosquitoes die after biting a person

False. Mosquitoes will continue to feast on blood until they are full. This means mosquitoes can bite several people or animals and easily spread infection to many new hosts.

Certain blood types attract more mosquitoes

True. Studies have found that mosquitoes are most strongly attracted to people with type O blood with type A being the next most preferred. Additionally, there are other factors that can attract mosquitoes to you like perspiration, hormones, or fragrances.

There’s only one kind of mosquito in Michigan

False. There are more than 60 different species of mosquito that have been found in Michigan. These are generally broken down into three groups: permanent water mosquitoes, floodwater mosquitoes, and artificial container/treehole mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes migrate south for the winter

False. While you’ve probably noticed there are no mosquitoes in Michigan in winter, you may not have thought about what happens to them. Mosquitoes are cold-blooded which allows some of them to survive by hibernating while others simply die when the weather gets too cold.

There’s not an efficient way to get prevent mosquitoes

False. Mosquito One offers spray treatments to both residential and business customers to aid in the eradication of pesky mosquitoes. Treatment sprays can be applied to yards, decks, patios, and other mosquito-prone areas and also help to eliminate mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, ants, spiders, and more.

Sign up today for 2021 treatment sprays and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from a mosquito free home, business, or municipal space. We proudly service customers in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties.

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