Where Does Mosquitoes Go in the Winter?

WouterDecember 11, 2022

Depending on the species, mosquitoes have different ways of surviving the winter. Some species hibernate in the cold while others lay eggs and wait for spring. The best way to survive the winter as a mosquito is to become an egg.

Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. They may also lay them in animal burrows or hollow logs. When the temperatures rise in spring, the eggs hatch and the mosquitoes emerge. These eggs may survive without food for up to eight months. They will then die when the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The female mosquito will wait until the weather is warm enough to breed. This is known as diapause. She will stop taking sugar meals and she will not collect blood to help her eggs develop. During this time, her metabolism slows down and she stores nutrients. When spring returns, she will restart her life and look for humans to feed on.

The female mosquito will lay up to 300 eggs at a time. The eggs will remain dormant until spring. When the weather begins to warm, she will start to feed on human blood. Once she does, the eggs will be developed and they will enter the adult stage.

When she is ready to mate, the female Culex pipiens will stop taking blood and start laying their eggs. These eggs will remain dormant through the winter. The male mosquitoes will not survive the cold. They will not mate until the fall.