What Happens to Mosquitoes in The Winter?

There’s a common misconception that mosquitoes die out once winter comes around. Although you definitely see fewer mosquitoes buzzing around after it gets too cold, it doesn’t mean that the threat has dissipated. On the contrary, many of them set themselves up to come back even harder once it gets warm again. The experts at SWAT Mosquito Systems Fort Myers and Naples are here to teach you what mosquitoes do during the winter and why now is the best time to act.

How Mosquitoes Hibernate During the Winter

Yes, mosquitoes are capable of hibernating during the winter. Despite how small they are, adult females specifically will burrow themselves into a safer position and hold out until it becomes warm enough to become active again. For reference, any temperature below 50 degrees causes mosquitoes to become too fatigued to move and will trigger their instinct to find a place to settle. The moment it becomes warm enough to snap out of their slumber, adult female mosquitoes will immediately look for a blood source to produce eggs as soon as they can. It’s also worth noting that if any adult mosquitoes find their way into your home during the winter, they will likely stay inside where it’s warm and even lay their eggs indoors where they’ll soon hatch and then you’ll have to deal with a fresh swarm right where you live. For those living in Florida, tropical mosquitoes have a different, more annoying agenda.

The Life Cycle of a Tropical Mosquito

While most of the country only has to deal with regular mosquitoes, Floridians are unfortunate in the fact that they must deal with a particular species native to the tropics. More specifically, the Aedes aegypti acts on different winter habits than your average species. This type of mosquito is incapable of hibernating to survive the colder months, so the adult females make it their main goal to lay their eggs before they die so their spawn can hatch and live on when it gets warmer. The eggs lie in wait in standing water and thaw out as the water gets warmer. The eggs turn into larvae which turn into pupa before becoming full adults. It’s important to note the different behavioral patterns during the winter, but it’s especially crucial to know that this species is more likely to carry all of the diseases that locals are worried about such as Zika, West Nile, and dengue. This is why you shouldn’t give up on mosquito control just because you don’t see them flying around during the winter.

Ending the Cycle with Misting Solutions

What is the best way to eliminate mosquitoes during the winter? The fine mist that is produced by mosquito misting systems is still effective in cold and moist weather. Also, the misting solution is designed to target eggs and larvae along with fully-grown adult mosquitoes. And since you don’t need to get out into the cold to manually distribute the solution yourself thanks to automatic misting technology, this is the perfect method for actively getting rid of mosquitoes during the winter and the results will carry on to spring and summer.

Consult the Experts at SWAT Mosquito Systems!

For an effective mosquito misting solution that’s been proven to work during the winter and continues to provide relief in the spring and summer, SWAT Mosquito Systems Fort Myers and Naples is the best company to receive your automated mosquito misting system! Call (954) 437-1815 for more information about our products and to receive a free estimate.