How Hot Can Mosquitoes Survive?
WouterDepending on where you live, mosquitoes are an all year round problem. They can be active in the fall and winter, or can hibernate until warmer temperatures arrive. However, you need to keep in mind that mosquitoes cannot live in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cold weather slows down chemical pathways and slows down growth. This means that mosquitoes have less time to grow and reproduce. However, some species of mosquito have adapted to colder temperatures.
Cold weather also causes some species to enter a period of suspended development called diapause. Diapause helps mosquitoes to survive during colder months. During diapause, mosquito eggs do not hatch and remain dormant during the winter.
Mosquitoes need a food source and water to stay hydrated. Without these two things, they can dry out and die. They also have trouble regulating their internal temperature. A sudden change in weather can also kill them.
Some mosquito species have adapted to colder climates and will survive temperatures as low as 45 degrees. However, this can make diseases more transmissible. As temperatures rise, mosquitoes become hungrier for blood. The diseases that they carry, such as malaria, are more active in warm weather.
A recent study by Rockefeller University researchers has revealed a part of the molecular mechanism that causes mosquitoes to adjust their temperature sensitivity. This helps mosquitoes to avoid temperatures that are too hot or too cold.
The TRPA1 gene helps other species of mosquitoes to determine the correct temperature to breed in. Without this gene, mosquitoes have no way to fine-tune their temperature sensitivity.
