Mosquito Breeding

As the weather starts warming up, the

dread of mosquito breeding season is

probably one of the most unpleasant

dilemmas. But knowing the basics behind

some of these mosquito habits could

reduce some of the itch that’s headed your

way.
Mosquito breeding season
Mosquitoes prefer warmer and more humid
climates. In fact, with global warming
pushing temperatures up across the country,
the length of mosquito breeding season has
increased. And, as cooler areas begin to
experience warmer climates, the areas where
mosquitoes can breed have also expanded.
Most mosquitoes can survive in temperatures
between 50 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. As the
area where you live begins to reach these
temperatures, mosquito eggs will begin to
hatch.
 Mosquito breeding
habits
There are more than 3,500 species of mosquitoes.

While their behavioral habits may vary, they have one

thing in common – a need for water. The type of water

depends on the species, but all mosquitoes use water to

lay their eggs. Around the home, standing water left in

flowerpot trays, plants and open containers can create

inviting mosquito habitats. Drains, sewage areas and

uncovered trash cans pose a more public hazard. One

of the keys to mosquito control is ensuring that this

type of standing water is eliminated.

Mosquito reproduction
The mosquito life cycle takes place in four stages, beginning
with the egg. All mosquito eggs require some form of water
to hatch. Some species of female mosquitoes lay eggs
directly on the water, while others lay eggs in small
depressions where water can collect. In some cases, eggs laid
outside of water can survive many years before hatching.
After exposure to water, most eggs hatch within 24-72 hours.

Once eggs hatch, larvae emerge. These larvae are sometimes

referred to as “wrigglers,” as they can be seen wriggling their
bodies in the water. Most are surface feeders, surviving on
algae, bacteria, protozoans and other organic material
ingested through their mouth brushes. Larvae develop for
seven to 10 days before reaching the pupal stage. Pupae do
not feed and instead, spend most of their time on the surface
of the water, taking in air. The pupal stage lasts one to three
days before an adult mosquito emerges.
Mosquito breeding takes place about 28 hours after the adult
emerges. Often, once a female has mated, she can continue to
lay eggs for the rest of her life. A female can produce
between 50 and 500 eggs in her first brood. Subsequent
broods have fewer eggs than the first, but some females can
produce as many as 10 broods.

Adult male mosquitoes do not take blood meals. They live

for about a week or two, surviving on the nectar of plants.
Female adult mosquitoes can live for over a month. They also
feed on plant nectar, but they require a blood meal in order to
reproduce. Most mosquitoes survive the winter as eggs or
larvae, before the mosquito reproduction life cycle begins
again.

If you are concerned about a mosquito breeding site in or

around your home, consider calling a pest management
professional. For an effective mosquito solution, call
Terminix® and ask about their Mosquito Control service – a
unique bait and kill system that targets even hard-to-control
urban species.