Mosquitoes are the planet’s deadliest creature because of the devastating diseases that the bug transmits. Mosquito means “little fly” in Spanish, and there are more than 2,500 species of the insect. When mosquitoes reach their peak breeding season, there are more of them than any other creature on the Earth except for ants and termites.
Why are Mosquitoes the Deadliest Creature in the World?
Mosquitoes are the world’s most deadly creature because they convey malaria. The disease is especially destructive, killing around one million people each year. Not only does Malaria kill many people, but it also incapacitates 200 million more for several days at a time while their bodies fight to recover. The disease threatens half of the Earth’s population, and it causes companies to lose billions of dollars in lost work hours annually. The insects also transmit yellow fever, dengue fever and encephalitis in addition to the Zika virus.
To date, there is no malaria vaccine. However, researchers are working on it. In several Asian and Latin-American countries, dengue fever is the primary cause of hospitalization and death. Yellow fever is a major problem in Africa and in Central and South America. Symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle pain, fatigue and headache. The West Nile virus is a type of encephalitis, and it is common in North and Central America as well as in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The virus impairs a person’s immune system when they contract it. The Zika virus has finally made its way to the United States after spending years mainly affecting people in Africa.
The rate of infection has grown dramatically in recent years around the world. Because of this, a number of scientists are worried about global warming and how it will affect the mosquito population. More mosquitoes mean more disease.
How Do Mosquitoes Transmit Diseases?
The insects don’t spread an actual disease. Instead, they spread the agents that cause one. Mosquitoes bite people to gain access to the blood that sustains them. They pierce a person’s skin like a needle, and by doing so, they inject saliva into the skin along with the disease-causing agent. Because mosquitoes have the ability to fly, they spread disease more quickly than other pests.
When a mosquito bites you, it is always a female. Male mosquitoes feed on plants. The lifespan of mosquitoes is about a month, and female mosquitoes require blood to support their eggs. This type of insect stores eggs inside its body, and it fertilizes them in batches. The insects can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, making them especially prolific breeders.
Keeping the Mosquitoes Away
To keep mosquitoes away from your home, make sure that you don’t have any areas that feature standing water. It’s also a good idea to contact a professional pest control company to treat your exterior spaces for mosquitoes. Pest control companies have the training and equipment to keep these insects away from your home. If mosquitoes are starting to take over your backyard, contact us at MosquitoNix. We’ll take steps to get rid of them.
