Most mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, but some species, especially the Aedes species, bite aggressively during daylight hours. The time of day you're outside doesn't guarantee protection.
If your mosquito strategy is "I'll just stay inside at dusk," you’ll probably be disappointed with the result. The idea that mosquitoes are strictly nighttime pests is outdated, and in many parts of Michigan, including the Lansing area, daytime biting is increasingly common.
When people think of mosquitoes, they usually think of the common Culex species. These are the ones that swarm at sunset and whine around your ears at night. They are most active from dusk to dawn. If those were the only mosquitoes in your yard, taking precautions in the evening might very well be enough.
But the Aedes species of mosquitoes make the idea of “stay inside at sunset” ineffective. They feed during the daytime, most active in the morning and late afternoon. But it won’t pass up an opportunity to feed at any hour. It’s smaller, black with white stripes, and persistent. It can breed in containers as small as a bottle cap, which even the best-maintained suburban lot probably has in abundance. And its range has been expanding across Michigan in recent years.
In short, there’s no window where you can reliably avoid mosquitoes in Michigan the same way you might have 20 years ago. This is also why personal repellent alone has limits. You might remember to apply it before a sunset dinner on the patio. You’re less likely to apply it before stepping outside to water the garden at 10 AM.
If you're tired of getting bitten at all hours on your Greater Lansing property, Mosquito Squad of Greater Lansing can help. Mosquito Squad treats the areas where both daytime and nighttime species rest and breed, reducing the overall population by up to 90% for 21 days at a time.
