How do mosquitoes survive the cold winter?

There are especially many mosquitoes in summer, but when winter comes, they are nowhere to be seen. Where have they all gone? In fact, due to the influence of natural environmental factors, most mosquitoes have already died by winter. So where do the summer mosquitoes come from? Below, the editor will explain to you how mosquitoes overwinter!

How do mosquitoes overwinter?

Generally, mosquitoes begin to appear in April each year, and reach their peak activity in mid-to-late August. When the weather turns cold in autumn and the temperature drops below 10°C, mosquitoes stop reproducing and die in large numbers. Very few mosquitoes survive; they stay in places such as wall cracks where they can shelter from the wind and cold, for example hiding in warmer and more concealed spots indoors, such as behind wardrobes. But they avoid hotter places, such as near heaters. In this way they can both get through the harsh winter and lower their metabolic rate, avoiding death from starvation.

When the temperature warms up in early spring, the surviving adult mosquitoes begin to suck blood, lay eggs, and reproduce. However, in winter most mosquitoes die naturally, and only very few can survive until the following spring. The mosquitoes that appear the next year are more often hatched from eggs.

How mosquitoes overwinter

The overwintering method of mosquitoes varies by species. For example, Culex pipiens pallens mostly overwinters as adults, Anopheles minimus and Culex tritaeniorhynchus mostly overwinter as larvae, and Aedes albopictus mostly overwinters as eggs.

How long is the lifespan of a mosquito?

Under natural conditions, male mosquitoes die about 7-10 days after mating, but in the laboratory they can live for 1 to 2 months. Female mosquitoes generally live for 1 to 2 months, and in the laboratory have been known to live for four months.