Louisiana summers are full of mosquito bites, but when cold weather hits, mosquitoes seem to disappear. So, where do they go? Do they die, hibernate, or find shelter?
The answer depends on the mosquito species and how they survive the cold temperatures.
Key Takeaways
- Mosquitoes slow down when it gets cold, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone for good.
- Some mosquitoes hide in warm places, while others leave eggs that survive winter and hatch in spring.
- Mosquito larvae can survive in water that doesn’t freeze, so they keep growing even in cold weather.
- Removing standing water and getting professional mosquito treatments can help keep them away before spring.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MOSQUITOES IN COLD WEATHER?
Mosquitoes are cold-blooded, so their body temperature depends on the air around them. When it drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, most adult mosquitoes slow down or stop moving. But that doesn’t mean they’re gone for good.
Some species of mosquitoes have ways to overwinter and survive until spring arrives.
WHERE DO MOSQUITOES GO IN WINTER?
Different mosquito species survive the winter in different ways:
Some Mosquitoes Go Into Diapause
Certain female mosquitoes, like Culex mosquitoes (which spread West Nile Virus), enter diapause—a type of dormancy where they pause their activity. These adult females hide in warm, damp places, such as basements, animal burrows, hollow logs, and crawl spaces.
While in diapause, these mosquitoes don’t bite, lay eggs, or move much. They wait for warmer weather before becoming active again.
Mosquito Eggs Wait for Spring
Some mosquitoes, like Aedes mosquitoes (which can carry Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases), survive by laying mosquito eggs in damp areas before dying. The eggs stay unhatched through freezing temperatures and hatch once conditions improve.
When the warm weather returns, these eggs hatch, and the mosquito life cycle starts again.
Mosquito Larvae and Pupae Stay in Water
In some cases, mosquito larvae and pupae survive in slow-moving or protected water sources that don’t freeze, like storm drains, marshy habitats, and underground water pools.
Since Louisiana’s climate rarely sees freezing temperatures, some larvae keep developing even in cold weather.
HOW TO REDUCE MOSQUITOES BEFORE SPRING
Even though mosquitoes aren’t active in winter, you can take steps to keep them from taking over your yard when spring arrives:
Remove Standing Water
Since mosquito eggs can survive cold weather, it’s important to dump out any standing water before spring. Be sure to check your yard and get rid of anything that collects water, such as bird baths, buckets, gutters, plant trays, and ditches.
A little cleanup now can go a long way in keeping these pests from taking over when warmer weather rolls in.
Block Mosquito Hiding Spots
Mosquitoes don’t just disappear in cold weather.
They hide, tucking themselves away in hollow logs, piles of leaves, and other yard clutter. Cleaning up your yard now can get rid of them and come back strong when warmer weather returns.
Also, check for any cracks around basements and crawl spaces and seal them up so they don’t have a cozy place to wait out the winter.
Use Mosquito Repellent
Wearing mosquito repellent can help when these pests start showing up again, but that won’t do much to stop a full-blown infestation. For the best protection, choose a repellent with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
But while repellent keeps mosquitoes off your skin, it won’t stop them from taking over your yard.
KEEP MOSQUITOES AWAY BEFORE SPRING WITH A PEST CONTROL PROGRAM
Mosquitoes may slow down in winter, but they’ll be back when warmer weather returns. At LaJaunie’s Pest Control, we don’t just treat mosquitoes—we stop them before they take over.
Our mosquito control services include monthly fogging treatments, In2Care mosquito traps, and standing water treatments to target mosquitoes at every stage of their life cycle. Plus, we back our service with a guarantee, so if mosquitoes return, we’ll retreat at no extra cost.
Call us today to schedule your mosquito treatment!