How Long Do Mosquitoes Live?
It’s been a long summer, and now that it’s nearing fall, and you’re probably looking forward to pumpkin picking, the leaves changing colors, and mosquitoes finally dying off. How long are mosquitoes a problem? Find out.
The Mosquito Life Cycle
Egg: A female mosquito either lays eggs one at a time or attaches them together to form “rafts” in the water. They float on the surface. This stage lasts about 48 hours.
Larva: At this stage, mosquitoes live in the water and come to the surface to breathe. They molt their skin four times and grow bigger with each shed.
Pupa: During this stage, mosquitoes rest and do not feed. They do, however, move around and respond to light changes. They develop into adults when their pupal skin splits, and the adult mosquito emerges. This stage lasts approximately two days.
Adult: The newly emerged adult rests on the surface of the water for a short time to dry and allow its body parts to harden. They can’t fly until their wings dry and spread out. Once they’re ready to fly, they can start blood feeding and mating.
The bottom line: most male mosquitoes only live about 10 days. Female mosquitoes live six to eight weeks.
Other Factors that Impact How Long Mosquitoes Live
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact timing of the different lifecycle stages because it partially depends on the weather. For example, some types of mosquitoes go through their life cycle in 14 days at one temperature and 10 days at another. Other varieties can complete their entire life cycle in four days or one month.
We do have some bad news for you…mosquitoes don’t die off at the end of the season. Instead, they hibernate. When the temperature reaches less than 50 degrees, they shut down for the winter and will return again next year when the temperature rises again.
How Long Do Mosquitoes Live? Not Long When ExtermPRO Gets Involved.
Your local pest pros at ExtermPRO know just how to get rid of mosquitoes, no matter the time of year. We have the tools to keep your yard and family safe. Call us today at 571-620-1168 for a free quote.
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