HOW LONG DO MOSQUITOES LIVE? LANGHORNE, PA
Mosquitoes have a short lifespan. The males are subject to a brief adulthood of about 10 days. Females generally live longer, sometimes for as long as three weeks.
One of the most common questions that people ask exterminators is how long mosquitoes live. Usually, they are hoping for an answer like "one or two days." The typical lifespan is longer than this, but not by much.
Still, there's more to the question than that. While individual mosquitoes live for a short time, they make the most of what time they do have. Reproduction is fast and plentiful. So, although the mosquito that bit you today may only have another day to live, it's still necessary to worry about how many eggs, larvae and pupae may be lurking in your home and yard.
Soon, these young will emerge as adults, ready to bite and reproduce. This means that it's critical to treat mosquitoes at all stages of development to end the problem.
HOW LONG DO MOSQUITOES LIVE INDOORS?
Two of the most common mosquitoes in the Langhorne area are the common house mosquito, known scientifically as Culex pipiens, and the Asian tiger mosquito, which has the Latin name Aedes albopictus.
The species of the mosquito can affect how long they live. Common house mosquitoes may live for between ten and 60 days, but the Asian tiger mosquito has a shorter span of between 30 and 40 days.
Mosquitoes take advantage of doors and windows that are left open or that don't have screens. Looking for a blood meal, the mosquito may not leave for quite some time.
When people see a mosquito indoors, it's natural to wonder if that mosquito will just die on its own.
Chances are good that it will, but favorable indoor conditions serve to lengthen the mosquito's lifespan. While two to three weeks is a good average outdoors, a mosquito that comes indoors can live for a month or longer.
What makes indoor living so attractive? Much of it is an absence of natural predators. Without other insects and arachnids to eat them, mosquitoes can increase their lifetime.
Moreover, homes and other buildings boast numerous dark, humid places where mosquitoes like to hide and rest. Common hiding spots include laundry rooms, garages, closets or beneath sinks.
Food and water sources also abound indoors. Both of these vital supplies may be found in garages, bathrooms, kitchens and houseplants.
HOW LONG DO MOSQUITOES LIVE OUTDOORS?
Mosquitoes don't live as long when they remain outdoors. Quite simply, it's a tougher world outdoors, and there are many factors that make it more difficult to survive.
An average of two to three weeks is a good run for most mosquitoes. However, many adults never reach this age. Much of this is due to predators, like arachnids and protein-living insects and small animals that prey upon mosquitoes.
Additionally, mosquitoes that live outdoors are much more exposed to the elements. They cannot tolerate much in the way of heat and sunlight. This is why many mosquito species tend to be more nocturnal than diurnal. Even the species that can come out while the sun shines usually avoid the highest temperatures of the day.
Sometimes, appropriately shady and humid shelter is difficult to find. A mosquito that gets trapped in a hot, dry area and cannot find shady conditions in time may fall victim to the summer weather.
Additionally, it's not always easy for mosquitoes to find the food that they need. Scarce resources easily can shorten the mosquito's lifespan.
HOW LONG DO MOSQUITOES LIVE WITHOUT BLOOD?
This is another extremely common question that pest management professionals find themselves answering on a regular basis. In fact, there is a prevailing misconception that mosquitoes need blood to survive, but this simply is not the case.
Male mosquitoes do not even bite to obtain blood. It is only the females that do so. Even if no host is available to provide blood, the female can live a normal lifespan.
This is because mosquitoes actually obtain nourishment from a variety of sources. Water provides them with different types of organic matter, bacteria and algae. Sugar is another dietary requirement, and this is gotten from plant sap, fruit juice and nectar.
Females only bite people and suck their blood because this process enables them to lay eggs. They can survive just fine without it, though their reproductive statistics will drop considerably.
This means that you cannot simply go on vacation and hope that mosquitoes will just die out because no blood is available. Plus, females can take blood from a variety of pets and wild animals, which helps to support the population.
HOW LONG DO MALE MOSQUITOES LIVE?
Males in general are lucky if they can live for a week to ten days. Simply put, the male really only has one purpose in life, and that is reproduction. He does not need a longer lifespan to accomplish this purpose.
On the other hand, most females will lay eggs approximately three different times. She needs the extra time to ensure that she can lay many eggs.
It is worth knowing that a female can lay several hundred eggs at once. These eggs are only able to hatch when they are exposed to water. Consequently, properties on which there is a great deal of standing water or clutter that may be concealing water are particularly susceptible to having large mosquito populations.
Eliminating standing water and clutter are among the most critical steps to controlling the number of mosquitoes on your property. The less stagnant water you have, the fewer mosquitoes you'll have to swat.
HOW LONG DO MOSQUITOES LIVE AFTER THEY BITE YOU?
This is another widely held misconception. Perhaps people are confusing mosquitoes with bees. It is true that members of some bee species cannot live for long after stinging someone. This certainly is the case for the female honey bee. Her stinger consists of a pair of barbed lancets. When she stings, she isn't capable of retracting her stinger and continuing on with life.
A honey bees leaves behind not only her stinger but also a portion of her nerves, muscles and digestive tract. Soon, she will die from an abdominal rupture.
Mosquitoes are different. In fact, they do not even require a blood meal to survive. They can manage just fine on nectar, juice, algae and many other edible substances. Female mosquitoes only need to drink blood because an outside protein source is required for laying eggs.
Consequently, mosquitoes are capable of biting people multiple times, and this in no way interferes with their lifespan.
This means that there is no need to be hopeful that a mosquito will die soon after biting you. All that has occurred is that you have helped to ensure a successful reproductive cycle. Now, you will definitely require an exterminator to help you control the next generation of mosquitoes.
HOW LONG DO MOSQUITOES SURVIVE IN WINTER?
This depends upon numerous factors, including the climate, the environment and the species of mosquito.
Some mosquito species very nearly die off when cold weather arrives. However, some members of the species survive by hibernating. Called "overwintering," this process enables mosquitoes to hide away for the winter only to reemerge in the spring to begin the process of mating and egg laying all over again.
Where do mosquitoes spend the winter? A variety of places may be ideal. Abandoned animal burrows are infamous for concealing large numbers of overwintering adult mosquitoes. Hollow logs similarly may provide a warm spot for sleeping away the winter.
Some mosquito species overwinter as larvae or pupae, with their development suspended during the coldest months. When temperatures warm up again in the spring, their development continues, and they eventually emerge as adults.
Accordingly, it may be wise for property owners to remain vigilant about conditions in their yards or other landscaping throughout the winter. Taking action while mosquitoes hibernate is one excellent method for ensuring a spring with fewer pests.
Are you concerned about the number of mosquitoes that you are seeing on your property? These pests are a common issue in Langhorne, and you do not have to put up with them.
Eliminating standing water, getting rid of clutter and keeping doors and windows shut all can go a long way toward making your property less attractive to mosquitoes. Add in visits from an exterminator who uses specialized products to control mosquito populations, and you have a recipe for success.
