Mosquito Summary
COMMON NAME: Mosquitoes
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Culicidae
SPECIES IN TORONTO:
TYPE: Invertebrates
DIET: Carnivores
GROUP NAME: Swarm
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN: 2 weeks to 6 months
SIZE: 3-5mm
WEIGHT: 0.0025 grams
The problems with Mosquitoes
With Toronto’s beautiful but short warm-weather seasons, your backyard is the perfect place to relax, kick back and enjoy some quality time with friends and family. The last thing you need is pesky mosquitoes buzzing around your head, keeping you from enjoying a BBQ with neighbours or quality family time.
But, it’s not just the annoyance of being “eaten alive” that should have you worried about mosquitoes in your backyard, these little pests can be as dangerous as they are irritating. Both the Weather Network and the CBC have warned us about multiple cases of West Nile virus, reporting a confirmed total of 26 human cases in the city limits of Toronto in the last year! (According to Toronto Public Health Officials.)
Don’t get us wrong, we’re not trying to scare you, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
“While the risk of becoming infected zwith West Nile virus in Toronto is very low, now is a good time to remind residents of the ways they can protect themselves from mosquito bites and help reduce the risk of infection,” – Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of HealthIt’s true, we couldn’t ask for a more enjoyable city to live in with Lake Ontario to the south, numerous ravines and a majestic tree canopy, but unfortunately, our unique surroundings come with a downside as well. They create the perfect environment for those little bugs we love to hate: Mosquitoes. Standing water and lots of humidity are the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and we have plenty of both. Mosquitoes have four distinct stages of life and it all starts in the water. This is where eggs are hatched and turn to larva. After a week or two the pupa emerges from the water and prepares to take flight, but it’s not quite ready to bite just yet. Once the mosquito matures into an adult, it begins its search for fresh blood and your backyard family reunion is the perfect feasting ground!
