Weather & Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are a type of flying insect known as a vector. They spread diseases like the Zika virus and the West Nile virus. While we focus on many different ways to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, Mother Nature's weather patterns play a big role in the population of mosquitoes.
If you're looking to keep mosquitos away and who isn't, then it's important to understand how the weather affects their populations.
How Weather and Mosquitoes
There are lots of factors that affect mosquito populations, but the type of weather and how much it changes are two of the biggest factors. Mosquito populations are highest in areas that get a lot of rain and humidity. They're also higher in areas that don't experience very many cold days and nights.
When the air is dry and windy, it becomes hard for mosquitos to survive. When it's cold, mosquitos go into a diapause - a temporary state that allows them to survive through harsh weather.
Mosquitoes' Favorite Weather
Mosquitoes are more likely to bite when the weather is warm and sunny. This is because they like to breed in warm, humid areas. Mosquitoes are cold-blooded insects. They prefer to live in areas that are around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
So even though cold weather doesn't kill mosquitoes, they definitely don't like it. At around 60 degrees, they become lethargic and they are incapable of functioning at temperatures below 50 degrees.
However, mosquito eggs can survive freezing through the winter. So you can expect fresh hatchlings every spring if you don't eliminate the mosquitoes from your property.
Too Hot to Handle
Do mosquitoes like hot, dry weather? Well, they do prefer it to cold, dry weather. But the holy grail for mosquitoes is a combination of warm and wet. But when the weather gets above 80 and into the 90s, then mosquitoes will become less active and seek shelter in the shade.
However, the diseases they may be carrying will thrive in these high temperatures. The diseases will be more active in the heat and thus more transmissible. So if you do get bit on an exceptionally hot day, you may be at a higher risk of infection.
A cool spell immediately after some unusually hot weather can cause mosquitoes to swarm in greater numbers since they will be hungry after sheltering from the excessive heat.
If nights are warm for multiple days in a row, then you can expect more mosquito activity during all other times as well.
Make Mosquitoes a Thing of the Past
If you're researching mosquitoes, then they're probably a big concern for you. And for good reason. Although they seem like an itchy nuisance on the surface, below the skin, they can cause debilitating or even life-threatening diseases.
No matter the weather conditions, at MosquitoNix®, we're dedicated to protecting outdoor lifestyles.
If you're looking to avoid flying insects while enjoying the weather this year, then you'll be pleased to know that the botanically derived insecticides inside the MosquitoNix On The Go Portable Misting System are ideal for camping, picnics, patios or smaller yards.
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