The More You Know, The Less They Grow!

At Mountain Mosquito, we pride ourselves on offering industry-leading barrier treatments to rid your yard of mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. However, we strive to empower our customers with the tools and knowledge needed to keep those pesky party-crashers away from their yard. To do so, we offer educational resources so you can get even more enjoyment out of your outdoor spaces. Whether you are a social butterfly who hosts many summer BBQs or you’d like to provide an itch-free yard for your kids and pets — these basic outside housekeeping tips will help you get started!

Understanding the life cycle of outdoor pests such as mosquitoes is the first step in combating them.

Below is information on the typical life cycle of mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, as well as how to get to them before they get to you.

The Life Cycle of a Mosquito

Female mosquitoes lay hundreds of eggs every few days during their lifetime, directly on or near water. Water is essential for egg hatching, which usually occurs within 48 hours. Once hatched, the larvae emerge. Larvae, often referred to as "rollers" due to their appearance while swimming, are essentially the baby stage of mosquitoes. They reside in the water, coming to the surface to breathe, shedding their skin four times and growing larger after each molt. After four molting stages, the larvae enter the pupal stage. During this non-feeding teenage stage, pupae continue to swim in water and occasionally take in oxygen through "trumpets" or breathing tubes. The adult mosquito gradually develops during this stage, taking up to four days, depending on water temperature. Adult mosquitoes rest on the water's surface and are primarily concerned with mating and feeding. Once fully developed with dry, hardened bodies and open wings, they can fly. Males locate females by the sound of their wings. After mating, males live for three to five days, while females have a considerably longer lifespan of one to two months.

The Life Cycle of a Tick

Ticks undergo a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, nymph, and adult, which can take up to three years to complete. Throughout this time, most ticks feed on three different hosts. After hatching, the eggs become larvae and feed on their first host, typically a bird or rodent, for several days before detaching and falling to the ground. Larvae then transform into nymphs, becoming active in the spring as they seek their second host, which can be a rodent, pet, or human. After feeding and undergoing detachment and molting, ticks enter their final life cycle stage during the fall. Both male and female ticks seek their third host, often a rodent, deer, dog, cat, or human, before well-fed ticks detach, fall to the ground, and the males die. Female ticks, however, survive through the winter, laying eggs in the spring before completing their life cycle.

The Life Cycle of a Flea

Fleas have four life cycle stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Female fleas lay between four to eight eggs, which fall to the ground and hatch within one to twelve days. The larval stage lasts from four to eighteen days before fleas enter the pupal stage. The pupal stage can span from three days to a year. Upon emerging from the pupal stage, fleas become adults and start searching for food. Fleas typically mature more quickly in warmer temperatures and high humidity.

Common Mosquito and Tick Diseases

Mosquito bites are not only irritating but can also pose significant health risks. Diseases transmitted by infected mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas have tripled in the past 13 years, accounting for over 640,000 cases since 2004. At Mountain Mosquito, we want everyone to relish the outdoors regardless of their location or travels. Therefore, it's crucial to educate yourself about these illnesses, where they are prevalent, and ways to protect yourself, your family, and pets against them.