For many, summer is the best part of the year. Warm weather means swimming, cookouts, and other great activities. Unfortunately, it also means mosquitoes.
Most people realize that mosquitoes are more active in the summer, but what you might not know is how the weather actually affects the mosquito population in your area. That’s right – whether you have to contend with a large number of mosquitoes or just a handful of the tiny pests can depend a great deal on three important weather factors: temperature, precipitation, and cloud coverage.
Temperature
As mentioned above, summer is typically the time when we see mosquito populations thrive. That’s because mosquitoes need warm air to survive. The reason we almost never see these bugs in winter is that they actually start to die off once the thermometer gets down to a certain point. This killing point is different for each breed of mosquito, but it usually falls somewhere around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why do they come back each year if they’re dead, you might ask? The answer lies in their eggs. Even though the adult cannot survive cold temperatures, the eggs can. So, if a female has laid her eggs before the cold sets in, those eggs can actually withstand winter, thaw out in the spring and begin their life cycle all over again for another season.
Precipitation
A second crucial factor has to do with the amount of precipitation in an area. Like all creatures, mosquitoes need water to survive. This need goes just beyond nutrition, however, as mosquitoes actually use standing water for breeding. Hatched eggs become larvae, and mosquito larvae and pupae must be in the water to survive.
Puddles, ponds, and other bodies of water provide the best habitats for this early stage, but if there’s no water due to drier conditions, mosquitoes cannot live. One practical application of this knowledge becomes obvious – if you want to control mosquitoes in your area, make sure to monitor water collection areas like planters and birdbaths.
Cloud Coverage
A final factor has to do with the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground. Sunlight dehydrates mosquitoes, so areas with more arid conditions that don’t see a lot of cloud cover tend to see fewer mosquitoes overall, and only then at dawn and dusk before the sun drives them away.
Mosquitoes can be a pain, but they shouldn’t ruin your summer. If you are suffering from these annoying pests, it’s time to do something about it. Contact us at Ideal Pest Control today to schedule an appointment!
