Mosquitoes do not enjoy all weathers. Mosquitoes are cold blooded insects it means that their body temperature is dependent on surrounding environment. Therefore, the mosquito activity and behavior is directly controlled by environmental factors and weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, moisture and rain. The ability to adapt to these conditions has made them to survive in many difficult parts of the world.
It has been cleared from our past years of experiences that certain weather conditions make them hyper active while some may slow down their activity. In short, there are some weather conditions which these mosquitoes really enjoy, while some make them to disappear or die.
Table of Contents
Do mosquitoes love heat or do they like to enjoy in cold weather?
Ideal weather conditions for mosquitoes
Consistently warm and rainy seasons provide the most optimal conditions for mosquitoes, and can keep them active throughout the year. The similar climate and weather conditions in tropical regions is the main reason for their year round activeness. In temperate regions with alternate warm and cold weathers, these mosquitoes do survive in hot warm weathers but die or undergo a state of dormancy, during cold weathers and harsh winters.
They also need high humidity to avoid any dehydration and access to open standing water sources like ponds, birdbaths, rain water barrels, any collected or accumulated source of water. Mosquitoes can survive and lay eggs in as small as bottle-cap of water.
Suitable weather conditions for mosquitoes are:
- Moderate to warm climates (27 to 32oC)
- High humidity, with nearby standing water source
- Dark, shaded, damp hiding spots near water
How does hot weather affect mosquitoes?
The mosquitoes are most active in the temperature range of 27 to 32 oC. In this temperature range, the core biological processes in mosquitoes; mainly, metabolism and reproduction are at its highest efficiency. Warm weather actually makes them more active and increases their energy levels, which makes them more active and sensitive.
This boost in their activity makes these mosquitoes to bite more frequently and get more nutrition to survive and reproduce. This is why do mosquitoes like hot weather. Female mosquitoes are more in need of nutrition from bloodmeals as they have to reproduce and lay eggs. Therefore, in warm weathers the female mosquitoes are most active.
One thing should be noted, that the lifespan of mosquitoes are much shorter in warm or hot weathers. The eggs hatches quickly and their development from larvae to pupa and than into adult takes shortest possible time. And, since male mosquitoes mainly serves as mating partner who don’t need blood meals and die soon after mating season within 1 or 2 weeks. While the female mosquitoes who rely on blood meals for reproducing, actually finds it easier to get blood meals during hot weathers.
As people tend to sweat and perspire heavily during warm and hot weathers, and due to higher metabolic rate in summers and warm weathers, the carbon dioxide emissions are also very high. This makes it easier for them to find, detect and locate their potential hosts.
After 72hrs of having a blood meal, the female mosquitoes start laying eggs more frequently, and warm temperature is the reason behind this quick and rapid maturation. Therefore, we notice a considerable rise in their populations in warm weathers.
How hot can mosquitoes survive?
As hot and warm weather causes rapid maturation in mosquitoes and decreases their lifespan, this is upto a certain level where the warm climate is favorable for them. Once the climate becomes more hot and exceeds the temperature range particularly above 38oC (100 oF), this will cause severe stress and dehydration in them.
At this temperatures, the mosquitoes become weak and less active and prefer to remain hidden in cooler, dark, damp places near water bodies like edges of pond, bird baths, tall grasses, etc. Any more heat above 40 oC, will dehydrate the mosquitoes extensively leading to their death.
How does cold weather affect mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes in cold weather, generally finds it difficult to live in the cold and survive. As cold weather approaches, the activity of mosquitoes starts declining. Their metabolism slows down and they find it difficult to move and search for food. In cold regions, some mosquito species have the tendency to undergo a state of dormancy or hibernation, which is known as diapause.
During this period, the development and metabolic processes undergo suspension and body remains dormant just like in a deep sleep. Female mosquitoes of some species burrow themselves in shelters and cooler locations and avoid coming out in cold weather.
In some mosquito species, specially Aedes albopictus (The Asian Tiger mosquito) and they have the ability to lay cold resistant eggs. Where the eggs don’t hatch and survive the harsh winter and once the temperature rises in spring the eggs hatches into larvae thereafter. This starts the mosquito lifecycle from fresh. That is why these species are found in various parts of the world surviving different climates and weathers.
Do mosquitoes come out in winter?
No, mosquitoes do not come out in winter and prefers to stay in dark and warm hiding spots with sufficient moisture which shows poor activity levels of mosquitoes in the winter. The temperatures and the humidity levels in the winter decides their activity levels, metabolic rate and reproduction rate. Winter is not at all good for mosquitoes and the environmental conditions do not allow mosquitoes to live in cold weather.
How rain affects mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes do like rain, as it provides standing waters in abundance and every rain shower creates new or renew multiple standing water bodies. Rainy season therefore indirectly denotes increased mosquito populations. After a rain shower, mosquito lay eggs in shallow, and small amount of water either collected in objects and containers or areas where water can pool and remain stagnant.
And if the climate becomes warm and favorable than these eggs can hatch within 24hrs and within a week they can mature from egg to larvae and than in to an adult mosquito.
This climate pattern of warm weather after rain shower leads to an incredible surge in mosquitoes population in the area. There are mosquito species which lay eggs that can survive dry weathers and hatch later on next rain shower, this ability allows their eggs to survive upto a year.
Relation between Humidity and Mosquito activity
Humidity and moisture in the air plays an important role in survival and progression of mosquito lifecycle. Sufficient moisture and humidity is what mosquitoes need to keep them active otherwise they will dehydrate quickly in dry climates. They have thin exoskeleton and a very delicate body structure which is highly susceptible to desiccation in low humidity.
The mosquito activity level is directly proportional to humidity levels and this can be more prominently seen in tropical and sub tropical regions where humidity frequently spikes above 60%.
Importance of moisture and humidity for their survival
Mosquitoes like humidity and it has also been found that higher humidity levels increases their sensing power to detect the attraction cues – mainly carbon dioxide, body odor and body heat. Therefore, areas like wetlands, marshes, over-watered lawns, large puddles, backyards with dense vegetation, jammed gutters, pools of water, etc. attracts more mosquitoes due to higher humidity and dampness in the air.
Mosquitoes have evolved enough to find and locate high humidity areas which makes them more active and easier to find blood meals and reproduce in such environments.
To control mosquitoes in areas with high humidity, you can reduce any water accumulation and pooling, trimming of overgrown grasses and dense vegetation, avoiding overwatering of lawns, emptying any standing water sources like flower pot saucers, etc. Installing dehumidifiers inside your homes will also reduce mosquito presence.
Exclusive behavior of mosquitoes affected by different seasons
1. Winters
- In winter, due to drop in humidity levels and excessively low temperatures causes a sharp decline in mosquito activities.
- Few species can survive harsh winters (where temperature falls below 10oC) by undergoing hibernation.
- In winters, we can take preventive measures to control mosquitoes before hand before mosquitoes emerge in spring. Clearing dense vegetation, clipping overgrown grasses, levelling up of puddles, cleaning gutters, emptying containers that could collect rainwater or water from snow melt will reduce mosquito breeding sites.
2. Summers
- Summer is the peak mosquito season and loved the most by mosquitoes. The summers of temperate and tropical regions where there is sufficient heat, humidity and frequent rain showers; provides the most ideal breeding conditions.
- This combination of warm climates with high humidity levels facilitates the quick progression of mosquito lifecycle that leads to large populations within a short period of time.
3. Rainy Seasons
- The formation of large number of temporary stagnant water sources like puddles, flooded areas, water pooling and accumulation; creates a spike in mosquito populations which is more commonly seen in tropical and sub tropical regions which receives timely rains frequently.
- In countries like India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, etc. rainy seasons amplifies many mosquito borne diseases like dengue, malaria, etc.
Influence of temperature fluctuations on mosquito lifecycle and breeding
- Temperature is one of the critical factors that governs the growth rate, reproductive efficiency and their overall survival.
- Most of the species needs temperature of above 27oC to 32oC (mosquitoes active temperature) which is a favorable condition for optimal breeding and growth rate. Under this condition, mosquitoes quickly progresses through different stages of its lifecycle and matures with in a week.
- This warm temperature range accelerates their metabolic activity and digestion which processes the blood meals at higher speed and allows them to lay eggs more frequently. This creates frequent demand for food and makes them more efficient in searching for bloodmeals through enhanced senses and results in higher number of mosquito bites.
- Mosquitoes becomes inactive, or undergo hibernation, or even die at temperatures below 10oC.
- At temperatures above 35oC, the mosquitoes feel heat stress and and starts dehydrating, which makes them weak. The regions with prolonged heat waves will therefore show a drastic reduction in mosquito activity.
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Conclusion
Mosquito activity, their metabolism, rate of reproduction, and survival – all directly depends on weather conditions. Rainy weather with warm and humid climate is the ideal condition for mosquito breeding and survival. Moderately warm temperatures and sufficiently high humidity levels makes them quiet active, efficient in finding bloodmeals and reproducing. On the contrary, cold temperatures slow down their activity and make them weak.
Different season brings a new set of challenges to control mosquito populations and prevent mosquito borne diseases. We can adopt simple lifestyle changes, take particular measures and follow protective steps to keep mosquito bites to a minimum.
Understanding mosquito active temperature, its effect on mosquito activity levels and influence of different weathers on their lifecycle and breeding efficiency, will keep you protected against mosquitoes and diseases they carry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Does cold weather kill mosquitoes?
Cold weather is not good for mosquitoes, specially the low humidity and cold temperatures of winters. Mosquitoes are cold blooded insects and they can’t generate body heat on their own. The thin exoskeleton and delicate body structure cannot survive the low temperatures and due to absence of enough moisture in the air they dehydrates and eventually dies.
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What weather do mosquitoes like?
Mosquitoes like summers. They love hot weathers and timely rain showers which provides them ideal breeding grounds and favorable conditions for reproducing. The ideal temperature for mosquitoes is around 27 to 32oC and humidity above 60% is the most favorable.
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Do mosquitos come out in rain?
Mosquitoes generally hide during the rain. Once the rain stops the new standing water sources created due to pooling of water and accumulation in form of puddles, marshes and wetlands with sufficient dampness in the air attracts mosquitoes to come out. In such a weather the mosquitoes look for blood meals and than lay eggs in various newly created breeding spots.
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Can mosquitoes live in cold weather?
No, mosquitoes cannot survive in temperatures below 10 C. Cold weathers reduces their activity levels, rate of metabolism and reproductive efficiency. They prefer to hide in warm and dark spots like overgrown grasses, dense vegetation, pile of logwoods, etc. Some known species of mosquitoes like the Aedes, are evolved and able to lay eggs that are resistant to cold weathers and survive harsh winters.
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do mosquitoes come out in 60 degree weather?
No, mosquitoes are active only within certain range of temperature. Beyond that the mosquitoes cannot survive any prolonged dry weather or heat waves. High temperature of 60 degree specially during hot sunny days, is very high and intolerable for mosquitoes, therefore to avoid excessive dehydration which can lead to their death, they prefer to remain hidden in damp and dark spots.
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Do mosquitoes like cold or hot weather
Mosquitoes don’t like cold weather and avoid winters and cooler temperatures. However, they are very much active and enjoy hot weather. But, the ideal weather condition in which mosquitoes are most active is rainy weather in tropical regions where there are many breeding grounds which forms after rain and warm temperature.
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What temperature do mosquitoes like
Mosquitoes preferable like warm temperatures. The temperature range of around 27 to 32oC is ideal and most favorable for mosquitoes.
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Do mosquitoes like cold air?
Mosquitoes finds difficult to survive in cold weathers. And the cold air during winters which is very low in humidity makes the mosquitoes to dehydrate and since the mosquitoes are cold blooded insects, the cold weather makes them feel weak and slows down their activity level.
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Do mosquitoes like heat?
Yes, mosquitoes like heat and warm temperatures. The hot weathers of summer however is not attractive, as the daylight makes the mosquitoes to dehydrate and therefore they prefer to hide in dark, and moist places during the day time. Once the temperature goes down during the evening, these mosquitoes come out and are most active during the night from dusk to dawn.
