Featured
The Ultimate Guide to Rodent Control
Call Us
Licensed Technician
One of the most annoying pests is the mosquito. Our DC, VA, and MD yards often fill with itchy mosquitoes every summer.
Ever wondered what do mosquitoes eat and why they bite? In my family’s yard, dense shrubs and standing water fed swarms that drove us indoors all season.
If you’ve been bitten by a mosquito, you know one bite can ruin an evening outdoors.
Dealing with mosquitoes is a headache for homeowners in DC, VA, and MD. Their itchy mosquito bites ruin cookouts and sleep.
Female mosquitoes transmit mosquito-borne disease like West Nile virus and dengue. These pests are small but can be a big health risk.
In my family’s own backyard, thick plants and moisture let mosquitoes breed. We tested traps, sprays, and nets until we built a program that actually worked.
Understanding what mosquitoes eat guides our treatments. Mosquitoes require plant sugars and, for females, a blood meal to produce eggs.
Knowing the mosquito life cycle helps time larvicides and sprays. At Better Termite & Pest Control, we use that insight in barrier sprays and In2Care traps.
This dual method cuts the mosquito life cycle at key points and boosts mosquito control results.
This section explores how and why mosquitoes eat different foods.
Most adult mosquitoes take plant nectar from flowers and plant sap from leaves. Nectar gives energy for flight.
Only female mosquitoes bite people and animals for a blood meal. Female mosquitoes feed on human blood, blood from birds, or reptile and mammal blood to get protein for egg production. They need a blood meal before they lay their eggs in standing water.
See our guide on Male vs Female Mosquito: Why Only Females Transmit Disease for more on biting habits.
A male mosquito never bites or feeds on blood. Male mosquitoes drink nectar and plant juices for basic energy.
Mosquito larvae live in standing water and feed at the surface of the water on organic matter. They eat algae, bacteria, and decaying plant bits. According to Virginia Tech, larvae feed constantly to fuel growth.
LSU research shows that larvae nutrition influences adult size.
During the pupal stage, mosquito pupae rest and do not feed. They rely on reserves from the larval stage and emerge as adults in a few days.
Mosquito eggs are laid on water or damp surfaces near water. When eggs hatch, they release larvae that start feeding immediately.
Larvae molt four times as they grow. Each larva consumes microbes and organic debris in the water to fuel development.
Once an adult mosquito emerges, it must drink sugar within a day to fuel flight. Most mosquitoes drink nectar from flowers or plant sap to power their metabolism.
Learn more on the Mosquito Life Cycle from the EPA.
Mosquitoes use their proboscis like a straw to pierce skin and suck blood. A quick bite can deliver pathogens such as dengue or West Nile virus.
Adult females find hosts by sensing carbon dioxide and body heat with feathery antennae. These cues help mosquitoes find people and animals.
Different species of mosquitoes favor different habitats and food sources. Mosquito life spans vary by species.
Aedes mosquitoes breed in containers and floodwater. Some Aedes species also vector La Crosse encephalitis. Species like Aedes albopictus feed on nectar and bite during the day.
Learn more about Common Mosquito Types in DC: How to Identify Local Species.
Culex species breed in polluted, stagnant water. Culex mosquitoes are vectors of West Nile virus and bite at dusk.
Anopheles mosquitoes breed in ponds and wetlands. They bite at dusk and can vector malaria, though not in our region.
Mosquito feeding peaks when temperatures range from 70°F to 90°F. Below 50°F, most mosquitoes live dormant or enter diapause.
High humidity helps mosquitoes avoid drying out. Windy conditions reduce bites since mosquitoes cannot fly in strong wind.
Knowing the mosquito life cycle helps target treatments at the right time.
Larvicides like Bti kill larvae when they feed in standing water. According to the Extension Service, Bti is effective around ponds and birdbaths.
Licensed technicians apply barrier sprays to shrubs and ivy patches. When mosquitoes feed on nectar in leaves, they pick up insecticide and die. Studies on Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits show sugar baits kill adult mosquitoes when they feed.
We use the In2Care system to contaminate adult mosquitoes with larvicide and fungus. In2Care traps then spread these agents to other breeding sites.
Discover our full Mosquito Control Process.
Our integrated approach boosts mosquito control results.
Different species bite at different times. Many mosquitoes prefer to feed at dawn or dusk, when light is low and humidity is high. Aedes tend to bite by day, while Culex and Anopheles bite at dawn, dusk, or night. This timing affects your chance of a mosquito bite.
You can prevent mosquito bites by dumping containers and mowing lawn. Remove standing water to keep larvae from feeding and cut adult populations.
This method cut our mosquito numbers and ended itchy bites.
Understanding what mosquitoes eat and where they breed helps homeowners target pests with better results. Our pest control services tackle mosquitoes year-round, from larvicides to barrier sprays and In2Care traps. Proudly serving Alexandria, Reston, and Herndon areas.
Call with any questions or for an estimate at 703-683-2000 or email us at [email protected].
Adult mosquitoes mostly eat nectar from flowers and plant sap. Male mosquitoes feed only on sugar, while female mosquitoes bite to get protein for eggs.
Mosquitoes drink plant nectar or honeydew for energy. Only female mosquitoes require blood meals; males live entirely on sugar sources.
Mosquitoes hate wind, dry air, and bright sun. These conditions dry them out and make it hard for them to survive and feed.
Female mosquitoes feed on blood to get protein for egg production. This blood feeding helps them produce eggs.
Mosquito larvae feed in standing water for about 4–14 days, depending on temperature. They molt four times before becoming pupae.
Some Aedes species can transmit dengue. In our region, Aedes aegypti is rare, so local dengue risk is very low.
Only female mosquitoes suck blood. They use a proboscis to pierce skin and locate hosts with carbon dioxide cues.
Mosquitoes use their antennae to detect plant nectar. They often feed on nectar from flowers early in the morning and at dusk.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that’s been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area. Read his bio.
