Mosquitoes: Winter Survivors?

 

Mosquitoes: Winter Survivors?

Wintertime means colder temperatures. Wintertime also means pesky mosquitoes do a disappearing act! Sadly, as soon as spring appears, so do those obnoxious bug bites! Mosquitoes, while not as prevalent during winter, are still able to survive the frigid temps. It is important to know how they spend winter preparing to ruin your nicer weather months. 

HIBERNATION: 

While bears are best known for their hibernation habits, female mosquitoes hibernate during the winter, too! Once temperatures consistently stay below 50 degrees, female mosquitoes start to find a nice log or animal den to hide out in. They will spend the winter months hibernating until the weather makes a turn back to warmer temperatures. 

  

LAYING EGGS: 

Female mosquitoes aren’t the only winter survivors. In the late summer, female mosquitoes will lay eggs to ensure a future generation. These eggs are laid in small pools of water, ponds, and wetlands where they can stay unharmed until the warmer weather causes them to hatch. As soon as the weather warms up, the mosquitoes are out in full force once again. 

PREVENTION TECHNIQUES: 

Since female mosquitoes lay their eggs in areas with water, there are some tried and true ways to prevent harvesting these eggs around your home during the winter months. 

• Empty water from your birdbaths, kiddie pools, flower pots, or any other standing water areas in your yards
• Clear out your gutters frequently to make sure pools of water do not remain
• Regularly check places that could hold pooled water such as buckets, old tire, boats or canoes
• Check and fix any outdoor leaky faucets

We hope that this provides useful information and also helps you take some proactive steps to keep your property egg-free during these winter months! Avoid a mosquito swarm in your yard come spring! Call our professional mosquito eradicators serving Chicagoland today!