Do Mosquitoes Live at High Altitude?

Wouter

Almost all mosquitoes do not live at high altitudes. In fact, most mosquito species prefer to live below 6,000 feet. Some species have evolved to live at altitudes up to 8,000 feet. Some species also live at higher altitudes, such as saltmarsh mosquitoes.

The height of a mosquito’s flight will depend on the mosquito species and the environment. Some species prefer to fly higher to search for food. Other mosquito species fly lower to stay close to their breeding ground. Some species will also fly higher in order to reproduce in higher, taller structures.

NIAID mosquito ecologist Tovi Lehmann led a mosquito hunting expedition. He and his team used helium balloons to hoist vertical sticky nets between 40 and 290 meters above the ground. They captured 461,000 insects. They hung the nets from March through November.

When no wind is blowing, mosquitoes will fly at a speed of 1 to 1.5 miles. The speed at which they fly will depend on the species and the environment. Some species can fly at a height of 25 feet, but most prefer to stay at ground level.

In the warmer months, mosquitoes will breed in water. The larvae can take several weeks to develop into an adult mosquito. The larvae are adapted to survive in very cold water. However, they may not survive repeated freezing.

In the colder months, snowmelt mosquitoes will breed in pools of water, which may freeze at night. These pools are ideal for breeding.

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