No, not all mosquitoes die in winter. Many survive the cold in a dormant state, some as adults hibernating in sheltered spots, others as eggs that wait out the freeze and hatch in spring.
You might think that a tough Michigan winter knocks out the mosquitoes and they have to start from scratch every year. The reality is a little different, because mosquitoes have evolved all kinds of ways to survive the cold. And most of them boil down to some form of “wait it out.”
Adult mosquitoes often hibernate. In some species, mated females find sheltered spots, leaf litter, hollow logs, animal burrows, sheds, crawlspaces, and basements, and enter a dormant state called diapause, essentially shutting down until spring. Then when warmer weather comes, they emerge and look for a blood meal. That’s why you can get bitten way earlier than you would think in the year.
Another strategy mosquitoes deploy is to lay hardy eggs. Certain species lay eggs in dry, protected spots or along the edges of water. Those eggs can survive freezing temperatures and wait until spring rains and warmer days to hatch. A few species even overwinter as larvae in protected water.
To be clear, winter still thins out the numbers. A lot of individual mosquitoes don’t make it. But it’s more of a pause than a reset. The survivors of one year’s cold season go on to breed the swarms of mosquitoes for next year’s season.
This is why it’s a good idea to remove sources of mosquitoes in early spring. If you have standing water, dump it or drain it so the mosquitoes don’t have a chance to breed. If you work with a professional mosquito control company, you will want your first treatment on the calendar when daytime highs are regularly reaching the 50s. The earlier you get ahead of the overwintered population, the better.
If you're tired of the mosquitoes bouncing right back every spring, Mosquito Squad of Grand Rapids can help. Mosquito Squad can start the barrier early to knock down the overwintered population before it builds, helping protect your yard with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
