For many, the onset of summer means outdoor picnics, walks and time at the park, but a bloodsucking insect whose lifespan rarely lasts past two months often can put a bite in those plans.
We’re talking about those pesky mosquitos. May and June tend to be the time of year when adult mosquito populations rise in Kansas. Many parts of the state received adequate rainfall during those two months, which promoted ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.
If the rain doesn’t slow down, then we are going to be looking at much larger populations of mosquitos. They lay their eggs on the surface of water, so anywhere that there is standing water (bird baths, old tires, eaves around the house, feeding troughs, etc.) are among some of the areas mosquitos are likely to multiply.
There are 40-50 species of mosquitos in Kansas, and they will lay anywhere from 200-300 eggs at a time. Some species will lay eggs in a low spot that’s just damp, and when the water comes in, the eggs will hatch. They have to have moisture to hatch the eggs, which happens 4-5 days after the adult mosquito lays the eggs. Therefore, reducing mosquitoes around a property comes down to reducing areas where water sits idle.
If you live out in the country, it’s really difficult to get rid of all of these sources of mosquito larvae. The goal is to try and get rid of eggs (larvae or pupae) before they become adults. Once at that stage, they will mate. Males have a very short lifespan; typically 10 days during which time they are harmless. Females need a blood meal in order to produce fertilized eggs, so they are aggressively seeking a blood source prior to depositing their eggs.
Mosquito control efforts in towns and cities are generally not effective ways to kill adult mosquitoes. The females will fly as far as three miles searching for its next meal. By the time they get to it, the residual activity of the insecticide is very, very little. The chances are very small that they are going to land on something that has a little chemical on it. They fly right in from where they are going and directly on to a human, bird, chicken or whatever
their next blood meal is.
For humans, the best way to protect from mosquitoes is to stay inside. When going outside, wear long sleeve shirts and pants. A repellent containing DEET will work against mosquitoes, but needs to be re-applied every two hours. The presence of mosquitoes is not going to get any better until it dries out, or at least until the corn, sorghum and soybeans are harvested. Even so, the mosquito is not going to go away. It’s best to try and control the habitat that is producing them.
Information comes from K-State Entomologist, Jeff Whitworth.
For more information regarding Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, or K-State Research and Extension call the office at 620-583-7455, email me, Ben Sims, at benjam63@ ksu.edu, or stop by the office which is located inside the courthouse. Be sure to follow K-State Research and Extension- Greenwood County on Facebook for the most up-to-date information on Extension education programs and the Greenwood County 4-H program.
