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The Ultimate Guide to Rodent Control
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Mosquitoes can shut down your backyard fun with their itchy bites. Ever wondered how long do mosquitoes live? Knowing their life span and life cycle helps you time treatments for the best results.
Our home had a swamp of mosquitoes thanks to thick shrubs and standing water. We tried dozens of fixes until our In2Care traps plus a targeted vegetation spray broke the breeding cycle.
In this guide, we’ll cover the four stages of the mosquito life cycle, average lifespans by sex and species, seasonal peaks in the DMV, and practical control tips.
Understanding lifespan versus life cycle is key. Lifespan (or life span) means how long an adult lives. The life cycle covers all stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult. Knowing both guides your mosquito control timing. For more on mosquito biology, see our full guide on Mosquitoes.
According to the CDC, all mosquitoes go through four stages before they bite.
Mosquito eggs are laid on or near water.
Larvae, or wigglers, live in water and feed on microbes. They molt four times (go through four instars) and usually become pupae in 4–7 days if water temperature and food supply are right.
Pupae, called tumblers, don’t feed. They rest near the surface for 2–5 days before the adult mosquito emerges.
Adult mosquitoes dry their wings and fly off.
In summer, adult female mosquitoes live about 2–4 weeks. They can lay up to three batches of eggs, about 100–300 eggs each. Under ideal lab conditions, some females can live up to 3–4 months.
Male mosquitoes usually live 7–10 days. They do not bite; instead, they feed on nectar and pollinate flowers.
In the DMV, mosquitoes start appearing in April once temperatures hit about 50°F. Early yard cleanup prevents many larvae. According to Montgomery County, MD, spring source reduction is key.
From June through August, overlapping generations mean constant biting and higher West Nile virus risk. Humid, warm nights let female mosquitoes live longer and feed more often.
Mosquito activity drops after the first hard freeze (often October to early November). Aedes eggs persist in dry sites, while Culex females hide in crawlspaces until spring.
Warmer springs and milder falls are adding “mosquito days” each year. A 2024 analysis found season length in many regions may grow by 1–2 months by 2050.
Target mosquitoes at vulnerable stages to break their life cycle:
These stations lure resting mosquitoes. The gauze strips contain larvicide and a fungus that females pick up and carry to breeding sites.
Our registered technicians use a backpack sprayer with an adulticide plus Insect Growth Regulator. They focus on shaded foliage, ivy patches, and brush lines for knockdown.
Use Bti dunks or granules in standing water every 7–10 days from April to October. This stops most larvae from completing their life cycle.
Spray at dusk or dawn around your yard’s ecotone. This living edge treatment knocks down adult mosquitoes resting on leaves.
Have questions or need an estimate? Call us at 703-683-2000 or email [email protected]. Our licensed technicians are ready to help you reclaim your yard from mosquitoes.
After a blood meal, a female mosquito can live 2–4 more weeks as she lays her eggs. Each bite helps her produce the next batch of mosquito eggs.
Mosquitoes hate citrus scents like lemon eucalyptus and citronella. These mosquito repellents can mask the carbon dioxide you exhale.
An indoor mosquito without predators can live up to a few weeks if it finds nectar and moisture. Dry, cool areas shorten their life span.
Ultra-low-volume fogging with adulticides can knock down adult mosquitoes on contact. Electric zappers and mosquito traps also provide quick control.
Mosquitoes use carbon dioxide and body heat to detect hosts. They also sense odors from skin and clothing.
Species like Culex pipiens can hibernate in basements or crawlspaces. They stay dormant until spring warms up.
Water temperature and food availability can speed up or slow down the larval stage. Warm water lets larvae complete their life cycle in under a week.
No. Different mosquito species have varied lifespans. Some Aedes live 30–40 days, while others only a couple of weeks.
Male mosquitoes only feed on nectar. They lack the proboscis needed to bite humans.
Regularly dump containers with standing water, treat ponds with larvicides, and keep gutters clear. Prevent mosquito habitat to break the life cycle.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that’s been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area. Read his bio.
