That is a Mosquito, Right? Turns Out, No!

Quite often there is confusion between what IS a mosquito and what IS NOT a mosquito. The most common insects mistaken for a mosquito are: No See Ums / Biting Midges / Sand Gnats / Sand Fleas (Ceratopogonidae), Crane Flies / Mosquito Hawks (Tipuloidae), and Water Midges / Blind mosquitoes (Chironomids). It’s ok, many people confuse them, so let’s learn the differences:

MOSQUITO: Well, first off, they bite! The female mosquito bites humans and other small animals because they need a certain protein from our blood to effectively reproduce. They do not bite us as a food source because nectar is their food source. Because they bite, they are a vector for disease-causing pathogens. Secondly, when you look at a mosquito, they have a long tube from their mouth, that they use to inject saliva, then draw blood. Gross, we know! They are similar in size to the Water midges, but smaller than the Crane Fly, and bigger than No See Ums / Gnats. Mosquitoes live and feed on vegetation and live on the underside of broadleaf plants. They move slower than the other smaller insects they are often confused with, but faster than the Crane Fly. Quite often they land on your body, and you can actually view it as it draws blood….if you didn’t smack and kill it first. Here is what they look like below. Notice their legs…it’s the easiest way to see the physical difference, besides their size in comparison to others:

        

Our treatment for mosquitoes includes spraying their habitats/food sources (vegetation), and their transit spots: sides of houses, sides of fences, patio and porch areas….pretty much anywhere they land. We do not spray the grass/ground for mosquitoes.

NO SEE UM / BITING MIDGE / SAND GNATS / SAND FLEAS: We all have different names for this insect, but it’s pretty much all the same. They are small, fast, annoying, and they bite. As soon as you feel the bite and look, they are often gone! This insect lives in the grass and ground, unlike mosquitoes who lives on the underside of leafy plants. This insect is much smaller than a mosquito and significantly faster. Just like mosquitoes, the females need a certain protein from our blood to effectively reproduce and that is why they bite. Because they bite, they are also a vector for disease-causing pathogens. Here is what they look like:

        

These insects live in the grass/ground sop that is where we apply our treatment for these insects.

CRANE FLY / MOSQUITO HAWK: Most people either think this is the world’s largest mosquito, as if exposed to some sort of radiation (kidding), or it is a mosquito killer. Both are wrong, it’s neither. Although similar in body type, it is much larger and does not have a biting tube. In fact, these insects cannot eat because they do not have a mouth. They are born with all the nutrients needed for their very short lifespan. Their role in life is to reproduce, as their lifespans is typically only 10-15 days. They move significantly slower than mosquitoes, who already move slow in comparison to others mentioned above. They often seem to be a “Big Dumb Insect” as they slam into walls or into light fixtures, because they are attracted to lights like most insects, and they move much slower. Here is what they look like:

        

We don’t treat for these insects. It’s not really necessary. They are not that much of a nuisance, especially once you know what they are.

Here at Mosquito Hunters of Jacksonville South & St Augustine, we can help take care of not only your mosquito problem, but also your no see um/sand flea insects as well. These are two different treatments because it’s two very different habitats treated with different spray settings. Nonetheless, we can eliminate these two biting insects for you so you can Take Back Your Yard in Southeast Jacksonville, St Augustine, and St Johns County. Trust us as your clear choice for mosquito control, flea control, and tick control. You can check out our Google reviews to see why we are your number 1 choice!