General information
Mosquitoes have been around for at least 46 million years. Besides being a nuisance, they can also spread disease and leave you and your family with itchy bites. Learn how to keep these little vampires away from you and your loved ones.
There are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes in the world.
Only female mosquitoes have mouthparts necessary for piercing the skin and removing blood. They need this blood to produce and feed their eggs.
Detailed information
What attracts mosquitoes?
Female mosquitoes are attracted to stagnant water where they can lay their eggs.
They are also attracted to body odor, perspiration, body heat and the carbon dioxide you exhale when you breathe. Because everyone is different, some people seem to be more attractive to mosquitoes than others.
Why are they a problem?
Mosquitoes can spread diseases with their bites, such as West Nile virus, malaria and Zika.
Where mosquitoes breed?
Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs and can be found near standing water, rivers, lakes or other bodies of water in the yard.
Some mosquitoes can breed in as little as a teaspoon of standing water, an amount that can easily be collected in old tires, cans, trash cans, flower pots, etc.
When mosquitoes are active?
Mosquitoes try to bother us and make the spring and summer period miserable, and their activity continues more and more often during autumn. They are most active in the early morning hours as well as in the evening period from dusk until dawn.
How long do mosquitoes live?
Male mosquitoes only live about a week, but female mosquitoes usually live for several weeks.
The average lifespan of a mosquito varies depending on the species, as well as temperature, humidity and time of year.
How mosquitoes find you?
Mosquitoes collect a variety of cues to find their victims - from the carbon dioxide you emit when you inhale to the odors you emit in your sweat. They use their receptors and vision to focus on these cues and can spot their next meal from 50 meters away.
What do they want from you?
Female mosquitoes need blood to produce their offspring. They will bite you or your pets for that blood meal.
What after a mosquito bite?
Our immune system is designed to react to mosquito saliva because of the large amount of protein it contains. The human body then releases histamine, a chemical substance that causes redness, swelling and itching on the skin.
There are many ways to alleviate these symptoms. That's why it's good to have some of these with you. Apple cider vinegar, lemon, basil, baking soda, corticosteroid cream, aloe vera.
The most important species of mosquitoes in Serbia
The most important mosquito species in Serbia, and the diseases they can transmit, are the house mosquito, Culex pipiens, the vector of the West Nile virus, malaria mosquitoes, the genus Anopheles, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, an invasive species that has the potential to transmit dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya and many other arboviruses.