Background
Mosquito Biology
Health Issues
Preventive Measures
Background
The mosquito is one of the most important pests in the Texas Gulf Coast area, affecting the health and well-being of man and domestic animals alike.  Because of the moist environment in our area, large mosquito populations occur often, especially in the warmer months of late spring, summer, and early fall. Female mosquitoes feed on human or animal blood, producing a painful bite.  This feeding process can also transmit a number of diseases for human and/or animal hosts.
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Mosquito Biology
Mosquitoes have four distinct stages during their lifetime. Prior to becoming a free-flying adult, the egg, larva and pupa stages occur in water. Mosquito eggs may be laid singly or in groups on the surface of water.  Some species of  mosquitoes lay eggs out of water, but in places subject to becoming under water due to rains or other flooding.  Mosquito eggs hatch in 2-3 days once the moisture and temperature conditions are favorable. Mosquito larvae hatch from eggs and must exist in water in order to develop. Most mosquito larvae breathe by projecting an air tube above the water's surface. After 4 to 10 days, mosquito larvae mature to the pupal stage.  Mosquito pupae are characteristically comma shaped and, like the larvae stage, breathe through air tubes.
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Health Issues
Mosquitoes are known to transmit a number of diseases to humans and animals.  Some of these include:
	Dengue Fever
	Encephalitis
	Yellow Fever
	Malaria
	Heartworm (dogs)
In Texas, encephalitis and occasionally malaria continue as appreciable health risks due to mosquitoes.  Encephalitis is a viral inflammation of the brain and is caused by the bite of a mosquito which has bitten an infected person or animal.  The three strains of encephalitis known to occur in Texas include the Eastern and Western equine encephalitis and the St. Louis encephalitis.  Symptoms in humans include high fever, convulsions, delirium, and other manifestations of central nervous system dysfunction.  The disease can be fatal.  Medical attention should be sought quickly if symptoms become evident. For pet owners, a major concern is the transmission of heartworm in dogs.  In infected dogs, heartworm can cause severe circulatory problems.  Symptoms include coughing, labored breathing and general loss of vitality in advanced stages. Because of the impracticality of preventing dogs from being attacked by mosquitoes, the most effective prevention involves medication which prevents the heartworms from reaching the adult stage.  Veterinarians can prescribe drug treatment to protect pets.
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Preventive Measures
There are certain steps which property owners should take to reduce the opportunities for adult mosquitoes to produce offspring.  Some of these are:
	Eliminate containers such as old tires, buckets, cans and bottles that collect and hold rain water. Also, discard old pieces of plastic that can collect water and become good breeding sites for mosquitoes.
	Empty your plastic wading pool weekly and store it indoors when not in use. Fill holes or depressions in trees with sand or mortar, or drain after each rain.
	Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and connect open waste-water drains to a sewage system or construct separate sump or leach lines.
	Change water and scrub vases and pots holding flowers or cuttings twice each week-or grow cuttings in sand; scrub and change water in bird baths twice weekly; empty watering pans of pets and check livestock watering troughs and tanks.
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