When Do Mosquitoes Hibernate?

During cold weather, female mosquitoes will hibernate. This is a period of dormancy in which they seek shelter and wait to gather blood for egg development. They will then emerge in the spring to begin eating and laying eggs.

While many insects hibernate, only females join in on this behavior. This is called diapause, and it may last as long as six months. It is a process that slows down their metabolism, and delays their egg development.

In warmer climates, this cycle can be sped up. The female will lay up to 300 eggs at a time, and the eggs will hatch when the temperature warms. When it does, the larvae will gain water back and start to fatten up. They will then begin their journey. During hibernation, the mosquito’s eggs will stay safe in the hole they were laid in until the temperature increases.

Some adult mosquitoes will die when the weather gets cold. In fact, most species of mosquitoes will not bite during the winter. Those that do live through the winter usually die off when the temperatures get too low. Occasionally, some will come out of hibernation on warm winter days.

Some mosquitoes can survive freezing temperatures. These include the Anopheles walkeri, the Culiseta inornata, and the snow mosquito. The Anopheles walkeri lays winter eggs, and the Culiseta inornata stays active in the south during the winter.

The Aedes mosquito will lay eggs in stagnant water. These eggs can also survive freezing temperatures. The eggs will hatch when the temperature rises and rains fall.

Continue reading:

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