Buzz
For those of us in colder regions, there’s a silver lining in the frigid winter months. Mosquitoes take a break, halting their blood-sucking and eliminating the need for bite repellents. But where exactly do they go? Perhaps Florida? Can mosquitoes even endure dry conditions?
According to Reader’s Digest, these troublesome insects rely on two strategies to handle temperatures below 50°F. Males die off, not from the cold, but after mating in the fall and living an average of 10 days. Their usefulness expires before the chill sets in. Females, on the other hand, enter diapause, a hibernation-like state where they burrow into a hollow log or the ground, slowing their metabolism. In this dormant state, they can survive for up to six months, even without water.
To prepare, females bulk up—sometimes increasing their body weight by up to 10 times—and wait for winter to end. When temperatures rise, they emerge and begin hunting for blood to fuel their eggs. That’s where humans become part of the equation.
Unfortunately, there’s no certainty that winter will offer a break from mosquitoes. A particular neighborhood in Manhattan has long dealt with an infestation of Culex pipiens molestus, a species that has adapted to breed underground during the winter without needing a blood meal. These mosquitoes then invade homes, causing frustrated residents to endure attacks even in the cold months.
