When the days get shorter again and the swarms of mosquitoes disappear over lakes and streams, that does not mean the end of the insects' lives. Many people do not even know that the animals also survive the winter. On this page you can read when and where the life of a mosquito begins and when it ends.
Mosquitoes spend one to three weeks as larvae
Gender matters
Many people assume that mosquitoes die after the summer. But this only applies to the male animals. Before that, however, they mate with the females. After that, they no longer play a major role. It is quite different with the females. By laying their eggs during the cold months, they ensure survival the following year.
life cycle of a mosquito
- egg
- larva
- puppet
- imago
The hour of birth
The females lay their eggs before the onset of winter. They usually choose open water points such as rain barrels or garden ponds. These places offer the brood later optimal conditions for the development. Depending on the species, eggs are laid either individually or in packages in so-called boats. The larvae hatch after only three to five days.
mosquito larvae
Once the mosquito larvae have hatched, they are dependent on oxygen like all living beings. Nevertheless, they initially keep their place of birth. By creating an air pipe to the water surface, they ensure the necessary supply of oxygen. The larvae of other mosquito species serve as food. In order to survive, there must not be too much water movement at the site. If there is insufficient surface tension, the animals cannot stay afloat. When threatened, they seek shelter beneath the surface of the water. The mosquito larvae stay here for one to three weeks.
The doll
The larvae then wrap themselves into a pupa. In this state they are not dependent on food. However, they are agile enough to seek shelter when threatened. The pupa stage usually lasts only a few days.
The adult mosquito
The last stage is the imago. Only now are the insects able to fly and leave the body of water where their life originated. The males hatch earlier than the females. Ultimately, these animals, too, continue the cycle of reproduction next fall. At up to six weeks, female mosquitoes live significantly longer than males.
mosquitoes in winter
In winter, female mosquitoes retreat to cattle sheds, garages or abandoned parts of buildings. Here they fall into a hibernation that makes their body frost-resistant. However, if a mosquito manages to penetrate a warm living space, it will remain active in the winter months. Mosquito bites are also possible at this time. Especially after laying their eggs, the females need proteins from human and animal blood to replenish their reserves.