Pestgon FactSheet
“ If they fly they die…if they crawl they fall”

MOSQUITOS: (Order Diptera)

Description:
Mosquitoes can be distinguished easily from flies by their long legs and piercing proboscis (blood-sucking mouth part). In overall size, Southern California mosquitoes range from one quarter, to nearly one an inch in length. Large veins are visible in the wings. When flying close by, their wings can be heard making a characteristic buzzing— a high-pitched whining sound. Wiggle-tails found in standing water are mosquito larvae that soon become biting adults. There are over 150 species of mosquitoes in the U.S. 9 are common in So Cal.

Biology:
Mosquitoes breed in variety of water habitat, marshes, standing water, rain pools, flood water, irrigation puddles and all sorts of containerized water left by humans. Pestgon, Inc. has noted that old tires left to collect water are a major source of mosquito habitat that breed large nuisance populations. Most mosquitoes readily bite humans and some are diseases carriers.West Nile Virus (WNV) is a well-known example and it is now prevalent in Southern California. So mosquitoes are not just a nuisance they, are potentially dangerous to your health. West Nile virus is a virus mainly transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes transmit the virus after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds, which carry the virus. Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms or they have flu-like. Sometimes though, the virus can cause severe illness, resulting in hospitalization and even death so it is important to know the symptoms of illness related to infection and how to minimize your risk especially, since the WNV is present in our environment.

Economic Impact:
Especially, in sensitive outdoor areas of the many commercial facilities that Pestgon services, the presence of mosquitoes due to negligence could become, not just fearful nuisance, but a serious liability. Obviously mosquito infestations quickly become a public relations liability as well. No one wants to spray himself or herself with an insect repellant to avoid mosquito bites.

Management Methods:
Long-term elimination of mosquitoes requires an Integrated Pest Management approach beginning with a thorough inspection and elimination of the breeding sites where possible. Pestgon, Inc., has a highly trained staff of mosquito experts with the know-how to handle any mosquito job, from backyard parties, outdoor rest or food areas to native, riparian, mosquito habitat. Depending on the circumstances, Pestgon, Inc. may use a combination of mosquito larvicide, low volume fogging, abatement traps and surface water management techniques.

Additional Links:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/mosquitoes.html