Summers have arrived and so have mass mosquitoes which are present everywhere including the kitchen, garden, school, office, bedroom, bathroom, and so on. As per some sources, it is reported that there are around 17 trillion mosquitoes present in Alaska alone. Not only this but this biting pest has more than 3600 species spread all over the world. All of this somehow sounds very irritating and makes everyone ask only one question that is “How long do mosquitoes live?”. So, to answer it and share more supporting data, we made this complete guide with a range of different aspects.
How long do mosquitoes live?
There is no one-for-all answer when it comes to the lifespan of mosquitoes as it varies from one species to another. As per some sources, it is reported that most female mosquitoes tend to live around two to three weeks effortlessly. Furthermore, some species can survive for 100 days to six months in places such as garages, locked rooms, abandoned homes/offices, and so on.
Apart from this, a male mosquito can live up to six days without feeding or getting the required nutrients and proteins for its survival. Moreover, the lifespan of mosquitoes also gets affected by the season. For instance, in winter, all the male mosquitoes die off due to the extremely low temperature for them. However, even in those conditions, female mosquitoes manage to stay alive by hibernating in different places such as burrows, hollow logs, cracks, and more.
The fun fact about the hibernation of such mosquitoes is that they easily hide in extremely freezing or waterless conditions for around six months as they delay their growth for months and restart the development once they find suitable conditions again which include availability of water, warmness in the
environment, and more.
Life Cycle of Mosquitoes
Once a female mosquito bites and gets its blood meal which includes minerals and proteins, it goes to an area that is prone to flooding and lays eggs there. This is the first stage which brings the life of new mosquitoes into motion. Moreover, it takes around four days to four weeks for a mosquito to develop from a tiny egg to an adult one.
Furthermore, these eggs hatch in water which produces wriggler (Larva of Mosquito). This wriggler gradually feeds in the water body and comes to the third stage of their life cycle which is known as “tumbler”. Now, the time for the tumbler to break the pupal case arrives which is directly dependent on the temperature of the water, species of the mosquito, food they consume, and so on. Once they get the right situation to break the case, they are all set to take their first flight or may roam around you to get the blood meal.
How long do mosquitoes live in a house?
Mosquitoes can live in your home for a couple of days to even a week depending on their survival conditions. Furthermore, if these biting pests receive the ideal temperature and humidity at your place then they may live even more than a month. However, this is not the case with every species of mosquitoes.
Apart from this, mosquitoes get attracted to food and moisture which are usually present in kitchens, bathrooms, and other similar areas of your home. These tiny creatures enter your space through some of the small holes, cracks, doors, windows, and so on. And, once they enter, in the daytime, they usually find a place and rest or hide there for hours and when the sun goes down, they become active and come out to feed on blooded beings.
How to stay protected from mosquitoes?
Below are a few tips and tricks that can help you make the mosquitoes stay away from you and get peace from those itchy bites. So, let’s start!
- Make sure to clean and dump standing water including pool covers, clogged rain gutters, large pits, and more so that the mosquitoes cannot lay eggs there.
- Start wearing clothes that cover your skin such as long-sleeved shirts, full pants, and more.
- Invest in some really reliable and good-quality mosquito repellent creams.
- Set up mosquito nets in your room while sleeping.
- Plant some small mosquito-repellent plants such as lavender, basil, peppermint, and so on in your surroundings.
Conclusion
Above we shared a brief guide answering “How long do mosquitoes live?” along with its other aspects like life cycle, methods of protection, and so on which might have helped you in acquiring enough data related to this topic. The life of mosquitoes depends on different factors and from them, the most important ones are environmental factors and species. I hope the blog helped you and if you need more details then do let us know through the comment box mentioned below.
FAQs
Q.1 How long do mosquitoes live without feeding?
As per some sources, male mosquitoes can usually live up to six to seven days without feeding whereas female mosquitoes have an extended survival tendency which makes them live up to two to three weeks without feeding.
Q.2 Why do mosquitoes bite?
Female mosquitoes are the ones who bite and suck up the blood to get enough minerals and nutrients for laying eggs. Once they get enough blood, they fly off and have the ability to survive without feeding for the next several days or weeks.
Q.3 Which blood group is mostly liked by mosquitoes?
As per some sources, it is reported that mosquitoes do not feed according to their preferred blood type or group. Moreover, for them, the body scent, dark colors, and genes are some of the attractive factors that make them sit, roam, or bite an individual.
Q.4 How long is a mosquito’s life?
According to some sources, a female mosquito can live from a couple of weeks to a hundred days, depending on the survival factors and species. However, a male mosquito has the tendency to live for around six days only, and that too without feeding.