Where Mosquitoes Live in Winter
WouterDepending on the species, mosquitoes live in winter in several ways. They can hibernate, die off, or find a shelter to keep them warm. They also lay eggs, but these do not always make it to spring. Some mosquitoes will come out of hibernation on a warm day.
Female mosquitoes can live for up to six months in a dormant state. They are able to delay development until it’s warm enough to hatch. They lay eggs in moist areas such as standing water, hollow logs, or tarps. They can also take advantage of holes in the ground or animal burrows.
Female mosquitoes may lay as many as 300 eggs at once. The eggs can be attached to the walls of a container for months. Some species prefer to lay in natural water sources, like ponds or lakes.
Aedes aegypti, the mosquito commonly known as the black rat, will lay eggs in containers or tarps that contain water. They are most active in the warmer months, and they can increase their population during the spring. They will also seek out muddy bottoms of swimming pools.
Male mosquitoes cannot survive the cold. After mating in the fall, they die off. They feed on plant nectar or the blood of mammals. They have a very short lifespan. They only live for ten days, after which they die.
During the winter, a few species will die off. Some will die off when the temperature drops below 17.5 degrees Celsius, but other species will live through the winter.
