The More You Know, The Less They Grow!

At Mosquito Joe of Metro Detroit, we pride ourselves on offering industry-leading barrier treatments to rid your yard of mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and more. However, we strive to empower our customers with the tools and knowledge needed to keep those pesky party-crashers away from their yard. To do so, we offer educational resources so you can get even more enjoyment out of your outdoor spaces. Whether you are a social butterfly who hosts many summer BBQs or you’d like to provide an itch-free yard for your kids and pets — these basic outside housekeeping tips will help you get started!

Understanding the life cycle of outdoor pests such as mosquitoes is the first step in combating them.

Below, is information on the typical life cycle of mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, as well as how to get to them before they get to you.

mosquito-control iconThe Life Cycle of a Mosquito

Female mosquitoes lay hundreds of eggs every few days during their lifetime, directly on or near water. Water is required in order for the eggs to hatch which typically happens within 48 hours. Then once the eggs hatch, the larvae will emerge. Larvae are referred to as “rollers” because of how they appear while swimming, this is also known as the baby stage. Larvae live in the water and come to the surface to breathe; molting their skin four times and growing larger after each molt. After undergoing four stages of molting, the larvae become pupae. Resting before they make their grand entrance, the pupae are considered the teenage stage of the life cycle and the non-feeding era. Pupae still live in the water and continue to swim around. They are lighter than water so they live at the surface, and must occasionally take oxygen through breathing tubes called, “trumpets.” During this stage, the adult mosquito begins to develop, which can take up to four days dependent upon the temperature of the water. Adult mosquitoes will rest on the water with two concerns; mating and feeding. Once the body is completely dry and hardened, and the wings have fully opened, they are able to fly. Males locate females by the sound of their wings. Once they mate, males live three to five days and females live considerably longer, upwards of one to two months.

Learn how to combat mosquitoes here→

tick iconThe Life Cycle of a Tick

There are four stages to a tick’s life cycle: egg, larvae, nymph, and adult, taking up to three years to fully develop. Throughout these years, most ticks feed on three different hosts. Once the eggs hatch, they become larvae and the larvae feed on the first host, which is typically a bird or a rodent, for several days before they detach and fall back on the ground. The larvae then transform into nymphs, which become active in the spring and begin to look for their second host – a rodent, pet or human and feed, repeating the process of detachment and molting. Once the tick enters the final stage of its life cycle, which occurs during the fall, both male and female ticks will it looks to feed on its third host, usually rodent, deer, dog, cat, or human. Once the tick is well fed it detaches, falls to the ground and the males die. Female ticks, however, live through the winter and lay eggs in the spring before dying, completing the life cycle of a female tick.

Learn how to combat ticks here→

flea control iconThe Life Cycle of a Flea

Fleas undergo 4 stages in their life cycle: eggs, larval, pupal and adult. They lay between four to eight eggs which fall to the ground and hatch within one to twelve days. The larval stage lasts from four to eighteen days, and then the flea will enter the pupal stage. The pupal stage can last anywhere from three days to one year. Once the flea emerges from the pupal stage, they become adults, and begin searching for food. Fleas will likely become adults more rapidly when in warmer temperatures and high humidity.

Learn how to combat fleas here→

mosquito disease iconMosquito & Tick Diseases

Mosquitoes and ticks are more than a nuisance; they can also carry diseases that can affect our health. That is why it’s important to be aware of the different types of disease and their symptoms.

Learn about mosquito & tick diseases here→

FAQ iconFrequently Asked Questions

Ever wonder what happens to our product when it rains? Or even how long it takes to dry? Keep reading to find out the answers to Mosquito Joe’s most frequently asked questions!

How long does it take to do the barrier treatment and how long will it last?
A typical treatment will average about 15-30 minutes. Larger yards may take longer to treat. Each treatment lasts approximately 21 days, at which time our team will be scheduled to treat your yard again.

Do you spray for mosquitoes in the grass?
Spraying grass during a treatment will depend on the type of service you prefer. If you are only looking for mosquito control, then we generally do not treat the grass because mosquitoes don’t shelter there. Our goal in doing a pre-service walk of the property is to seek out the “hot spots” where mosquitoes will be loafing. The most common areas to find mosquitoes during the day include: the underside of the leaves of dense/shrubby plants, under decks, and in damp shady areas of the property. We do recommend that you keep your grass short during the mosquito season.

If you are looking for tick, flea, chigger, and no-see-um prevention in addition to mosquito control, then we DO treat the grass. Many of these pests can live in both your grass and your landscaping.

In some cases, such as special events like weddings and large outdoor parties, we will spray the grass where your guests will be.

Are the treatments effective against any other pests?
Our standard treatment primarily targets mosquitoes, but we also target fleas and ticks in the yard. Flies, gnats, chiggers, and no-see-ums are also affected, but the residual attribute of the product is not effective at long-term suppression of these insects.

Read more of our FAQs here→

PESP Partnership

Mosquito Joe was recently admitted into the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Through this partnership our goal is to provide low-risk pest management, so that you can enjoy your outdoor spaces without the hassle of mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas and with the peace of mind that Mosquito Joe is taking every precaution necessary when handling, applying, and disposing our products.

Learn more about out partnership here→