Where Do Mosquitoes Go in the Winter

,

Summer is full of fun, sun, and mosquitoes. Living in the south, we know these annoying, blood-sucking insects put a damper on the summer months. But have you ever wondered where they go during the winter months? They seem to almost evaporate overnight once the temperatures begin to drop. Here is why.

Hibernation

Males have only a 10-day life span, so they mate and die off. They cannot hibernate in the winter. Females, on the other hand, will find trees, burrows, or basements to hide in for the long winter. They put their bodies in “self-preservation mode”, or diapause, during the brunt of the winter months. When spring comes and the weather warms up, they will essentially “restart their lives”. The adult mosquitoes lay their eggs and the cycle starts over again.

Leave Eggs

The female mosquitoes who don’t go into hibernation will lay their eggs before the cold. They will typically gravitate towards any type of standing water or ice. Mosquito larvae grow and thrive in water. When the temperatures rise, the eggs will hatch thus a new generation of mosquitoes are born.

How to Prevent Mosquitos During the Winter

Remove Any Standing Water

Mosquitoes will lay their eggs in any standing water they can find. Turn over any buckets, flower pots, furniture, or any other container that can accumulate water. This will get rid of any possible eggs that have been laid or prevent any from being laid in the future.

Keep your Grass Short

Female mosquitoes like to hide out in tall grass in the winter. Make sure to cut your grass and keep it maintained during the winter months to prevent them from making your backyard their home for the winter.

Wear your repellent

There may be a few straggler mosquitoes that somehow make it through the cold and The CDC recommends using repellents that have 20% or more DEET on exposed skin. There are plenty of natural repellents as well such as:

  1. Lavender
  2. Basil
  3. Rosemary
  4. Catnip
  5. Citronella

Call Ideal Partners to start your prevention plan or treat any mosquito problems you may have today.