Mosquitoes

The name Mosquito, comes from the Spanish and Portuguese word for “little fly.” A very common insect, there are about 3,500 species of mosquitoes, found throughout the world.

Most mosquito species are dawn or dusk feeders. While males typically feed on nectar and plant juices, the female must obtain protein and iron from a “blood meal”, in order to produce her eggs. In some species of mosquito, the female members feed on humans, causing concern for homeowners and health officials. Because this insect is known to transport disease-causing viruses and parasites from person to person, potentially infecting millions of people each year; they are often considered a very serious insect control problem.

In some instances, a large bat and/or Purple Martin population can be very efficient consumers of insect pests. However with that being said, typically less than one percent of their diet, actually consists of mosquitoes. As such, neither bats nor Purple Martins have the resources make a meaningful natural pest control contribution, that would significantly reduce a mosquito population.

Read more about the mosquito.

Fleas

Fleas are wingless insects with mouth-parts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas are external parasites, and survive predominately off the blood of mammals (including bats and humans) and birds. They are often discovered indoors in floor cracks & crevices, along baseboards, under rug edges and in furniture or beds.

Fleas are small, approximately 1/16 to 1/8-inch long, agile, and very often dark in color. The flea body is hard, polished, and covered with many hairs and short spines, directed backward. The tough body is able to withstand great pressure. Their legs are long, and the hind pair are well adapted for jumping. In fact, this common pest control problem can jump vertically up to 7 inches, and horizontally up to 13 inches. This is around 200 times their own body length, making the flea one of the best jumpers of all known animals (relative to body size), second only to the froghopper.

Fleas not only cause an insect control problem for people and pets, they also act as a vector for disease. Fleas can cause severe medical problems, which include flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), secondary skin irritations and, in extreme cases, anemia, tapeworms, and stomach flu. As well, fleas can transmit the bubonic plague and many other diseases, from humans to rodents, rodents to humans; and from animals to humans.

Read more about the flea.

Little Brown bats

The Little Brown bat is one of the most common bats in North America, and has been a model organism for bat studies and research. As the bat's name suggests, it's fur is uniformly dark brown and glossy on the back. The upper body is slightly paler, with greyish fur underneath.

This species of bat has 38 teeth, all of which are relatively sharp. As is typical for insectivores, this natural exterminator has canines that are very prominent, enabling it to grasp hard-bodied insects; while still in flight.

Pest management experts report that a strong population of Little Brown bats, will provide effective bug and insect control services to homeowners and farmers, by consuming tons of insect pests; year after year.

Read more about the Little Brown bat.