Yes, dehydrate rapidly in dry air, so high humidity lets them stay active for longer. That’s why areas like the Jersey Shore seem to have more mosquitoes than inland.
If you go out on the shoreline on one of those common muggy Jersey Shore evenings, you’ll probably run into mosquitoes. And if they seem to ease up on the rare dry days, you’re observing one of the most fundamental factors of mosquito biology. Mosquitoes require humidity to survive.
Mosquitoes lose moisture through their exoskeleton constantly. In dry air, this water loss can become fatal within hours. Direct sunlight and low humidity together are the harshest conditions a mosquito faces, which is why hot, breezy, sunny afternoons suppress mosquito activity so dramatically. If you flip those conditions to where the day is still, humid, and overcast, the mosquitoes can stay active nearly all day.
When it’s humid, mosquitoes don’t need to rest as long. They can spend more time feeding and they can travel farther. But when it’s dry, they have to retreat inside shrubs, under decks, and in other places with less heat exposure.
When humidity is high, they can move freely across open areas because they’re not fighting dehydration with every wingbeat. That’s why a humid evening feels much worse than a dry one even if the number of mosquitoes on your property is unchanged.
And along with humidity, you’ll also find standing water. Mosquitoes need standing water to breed, and every puddle can be a potential hatchery for mosquito larvae if left sitting for a week. So not only are mosquitoes more active when it’s humid, but they have more places to breed.
If you’re a Jersey Shore homeowner who’s tired of dealing with the mosquitoes that come with coastal humidity, Mosquito Squad of the Jersey Shore can help. A technician will walk your property, and then treat the areas where mosquitoes rest and breed. Then they’ll come back every 21 days to re-treat so your protection stays steady all season long.
