What happens to mosquitoes in the winter?

Though fall and winter present their own challenges for homeowners experiencing cold weather, it’s hard not to smile at the thought of mosquitoes disappearing for a while when summer ends. Unfortunately, not all mosquitoes die off when the months turn colder.

Some mosquito species can persist through the winter during their larval and adult stages in a slumber-like state known as diapause. Many mosquitoes can overwinter as eggs, too. Once you know where mosquitoes go in the winter, you can mount some simple mosquito control strategies to make your yard and home unattractive to the loitering pests.

“The mosquitoes that spend the winter as adults, they kind of look for these climate stable environments,” said Lawrence Reeves, assistant professor at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. “Anything underground is perfect.”

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How do mosquitoes survive the winter?

Adult female mosquitoes can enter a phase of dormancy called diapause to overwinter. In these cases, they seek wet and warm hideouts to hibernate in — think basements, drain pipes, hollow logs, animal burrows, garages and sheds.

As the temperature drops, their metabolism slows, suspending their development until they warm up in the spring. If a female has already laid her eggs, she also has a good chance of survival.

“There are some larvae that can slow down their growth during the cold periods … and even kind of pause it during the winter weather,” said Geoffrey Attardo, associate professor at the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California, Davis. “When conditions improve, they’ll speed back up and come out again during the spring.”

For example, the pitcher plant mosquito lays its eggs in pooled water inside pitcher plants. The adults will die in the winter while the eggs freeze solid in their vegetative containers. In the spring, the eggs warm up and continue their development.

How do you prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in your yard?

There are many ways to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs or overwintering on your property. Our experts put the focus on ridding your property of standing water and areas where mosquitoes can take refuge — not using potentially harmful pesticides.

“Most of the mosquitoes that bite people are urban mosquitoes that are actually invasive species,” said Dina Fonseca, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. “So, something like the Asian tiger mosquito.”

This type of mosquito likes to lay its eggs in human-made containers, such as an old paint can, a dented trash lid or a yogurt cup that rolled under a bush. “People can empty the container of water, but the eggs are still on the sides,” said Fonseca. “You literally have to scrape the containers to clean them out or just get rid of them.”

The few mosquito eggs that survive the winter months usually hatch around March or April. This generation will lay eggs that will hatch around May or June — this time more survive, and they develop faster.

“You get into July, and you get this big, big generation,” added Fonseca. “You’re getting bit by Asian tiger mosquitoes left and right. That’s why getting rid of those containers in the spring and stopping this compound growth from happening is really the best way to address this mosquito.”

Other ways to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs include eliminating any standing water (check those bird baths and gutters), filling your plant pot saucers with gravel or sand, and keeping pool water circulating.

“The thing about these urban mosquitoes is it’s a community effort,” said Fonseca. “You can have zero containers in your backyard, but if your neighbor has an abandoned jacuzzi, you’re doomed.”

Reeves cautioned against using pest-control options that can damage your local ecology. Permethrin, a common insecticide, can last a long time on vegetation and kill more insects than just mosquitoes.

Though most homeowners relish the thought of fewer mosquitoes buzzing around on a nice summer evening, remember that mosquitoes serve a purpose in our environment — and it’s not just to annoy you. They also act as water purifiers and pollinators.

“These guys are here, and they’re designed to be here,” said Attardo. “No matter what you do, they’re going to be around.”

What is the mosquito life cycle?

Understanding mosquito life cycles can help you understand their behavior. As cold-blooded insects, mosquitoes can’t regulate their body heat. Because of this, they prefer wet and warm weather conditions — ideally 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They become lethargic at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and cease functioning below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Water plays a crucial role in a mosquito’s life cycle — the first three stages of their lives occur aquatically.

Egg

Where a mosquito lays its eggs varies across species, but all mosquito eggs require standing water to hatch. Mosquitoes stay in the egg stage for various amounts of time depending on species and external conditions such as temperature.

In the summer months, mosquito eggs can hatch within 48 hours, and their life cycle can take seven to 10 days.

Larva

Once the eggs hatch, mosquito larvae emerge. Mosquito larvae, or “wrigglers,” remain in their water source, feeding on microorganisms and occasionally coming up for air. They mature into pupae after about a week.

Pupa

The next stage is the pupal phase. The pupae don’t feed and are still strictly aquatic. This stage only lasts one to four days. An adult mosquito metamorphosizes in the pupal case, which bridges the larval and adult stages.

Adult

Finally the adult mosquito flies off from the water in search of food. Only female mosquitoes bite mammals and suck blood, requiring protein from blood to create eggs and continue the life cycle. They live for six weeks on average but can survive up to five months.

Male mosquitoes live for only six to seven days on average and feed on nectar.

What’s next?

Beyond avoiding itchy bites, it’s important to consider your safety. Mosquitoes can carry vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika and the West Nile virus. While you shouldn’t panic, you should pay attention to the risks.

Additional protection measures include wearing repellants with a proven ingredient such as DEET, opting for protective clothing and staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active in your area.

If you’re facing an infestation during mosquito season that is outside your ability to manage, consider hiring a pest control company such as Terminix or Orkin. We recommend you get at least three quotes before choosing a provider.