BirdCast: Garden Pests: Mosquitoes

Pest: Mosquitoes, House Mosquito (Culex pipiens), Eastern Tree-hole Mosquito (Aedes triseriatus), Mottled-wing Mosquito (Anopheles punctipennis).

Discussion: There are more than 60 different mosquito species that can be found in the Mid-Atlantic region. Many rarely come in contact with humans, but rather feed only on birds and other animals in their area. The species most commonly found around the home include the northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens, the most common mosquito in urban environments), the eastern tree-hole mosquito (Aedes triseriatus), white-dotted mosquito (Culex restuans) and the mottled-wing mosquito (Anopheles punctipennis). Adult stages are easy to detect as they buzz by the ear, or stop to feed on some tender spot. Larval stages are wingless and leg-less and are found in most places where there is standing water containing some organic material. Both male and female mosquitoes regularly feed on flower nectar to obtain their energy. What makes them pests, though, is that female mosquitoes require blood in order to lay eggs.

Recently, mosquitoes have been receiving special attention in the northeast because of their ability to spread the virus which causes West Nile Encephalitis. In the summer of 1999, a previously unrecorded form of this disease killed 7 people in New York City. Birds and other animals (sheep, horses, monkeys and others) can also be infected, but crows and jays seem to be especially susceptible. This disease is primarily transmitted by Culex pipiens mosquitoes. Help control these species by reducing the availability of breeding habitat.

Pesticides Commonly Applied: Malathion, Naled, Sumithrin and Resmethrin and others. Biological and Physical Controls: The most important thing to keep in mind is that most of the mosquitoes found around the home require standing water containing some organic material in order to breed. Anything that can hold water for more than 4 days and can collect organic material (leaves, grass cuttings etc.), can be used as a breeding spot. This would include, but not be limited to: flower pots, watering cans, garbage cans, plastic pools, neglected birdbaths, old tires & tire swings, blocked gutters, and etc. Drain water from hollows in trees and other naturally forming puddles you encounter around the yard. Eliminate standing water on your property and you will reduce the number of mosquitoes in your area.

Bird Facts: Purple Martins, swallows, nighthawks, many shorebirds (Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Semipalmated Sandpiper and others) flycatchers and warblers are known to dine on mosquitoes and feed them to their young.