In order to effectively control mosquito populations, it’s important to know where to locate mosquitoes, their eggs and larvae. But where exactly do mosquitoes live when they’re not ruining your pool party or cookout? Think about it. How often have you seen a mosquito resting?
The following mosquito facts will provide insight into these annoying bloodsuckers to help you better understand where mosquitoes live, which is important knowledge for helping control them.
Where Do Mosquitoes Live During Development?
For the most part, the mosquito life cycle will determine where these insects live. For example, depending on the preference of the individual mosquito species, eggs may be laid in standing water in your yard, damp soil, flood plains or other areas that have dried out, but they must be exposed to water to hatch. This is because the mosquito larvae develop in the water, growing as they eat algae, bacteria, protozoa and so forth.
After the larvae molt four times, they enter the pupal stage of the mosquito life cycle. The pupae also spend their time entirely in the water, though they don’t eat or molt.
Once a mosquito emerges from its pupal casing, it’s an adult. These new mature mosquitoes will remain on the surface of the water until their wings harden and they can fly off.
Where Do Mosquitoes Live During Adulthood?
Adults waste no time and typically start breeding about 28 hours after they emerge from the pupal stage. Males and females feed on nectar and plant juices, but females also need a blood meal to effectively reproduce. When they’re not buzzing about you or plants, mosquitoes are resting. But where?
Unlike eggs, larvae and pupae, adult mosquitoes do not restrict themselves to the water. Additionally, it’s uncommon for mosquitoes to prefer the inside of your home over outdoor harborages. More often than not, the adults rest outside in vegetation — such as tall grass, hollow trees and under leaves.
When Do Mosquitoes Come Out?
The time of day when mosquitoes are active will depend on the individual species. For instance, members of the genus Aedes — which can carry pathogens that may cause diseases are more active during the day, especially in the morning and afternoons. Culex mosquitoes — known for carrying pathogens that could spread West Nile — are more active at night. The activity across mosquito species tends to be the highest around dusk.
When you understand the mosquito life cycle, it’s clear why it’s a good idea to limit the amount of standing water in your yard. You can do this by making sure you empty any water out of old tires, flower pots and buckets, as well as filling in holes that may puddle. In addition, change out the water in birdbaths, consider adding pumps to fish ponds or water features and make sure your storm gutters are cleaned.
Preventative measures are only part of the battle, though, and DIY mosquito control methods don’t usually pan out. Relying on the services of a professional mosquito control company, like Terminix®, can help you properly control these insects throughout every stage of the mosquito life cycle.
