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What is a mosquito's lifespan?

After the eggs hatch, the larvae turn into pupae and grow into adult mosquitoes over the course of about 14 days. From there, adult mosquitoes will breed and lay eggs to start the cycle over. Mosquitoes will die off when it begins to get cold outside, are eaten by a predator, or die naturally.

Their natural lifespan is approximately one to two months. During this time, they are constantly reproducing, spawning more and more new generations of mosquitoes.

Dead mosquitoes on white counter black background

The Life Cycle of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes require stagnant water to lay their eggs. Once they’ve found an appropriate site, the mosquito breeding and life cycle goes like this:

  1. Female mosquitoes require a blood meal in order to reproduce. After feeding, they will lay their eggs on or near stagnant water. 
  2. The eggs will hatch within 24 to 72 hours. When the larvae emerge from the eggs, they are typically seen wiggling in the water. The larvae will feed on algae, protozoans, and other organic material.
  3. After about 7 to 10 days, the larvae reach the pupal stage. Instead of feeding, the pupae spend a couple of days at the surface of the water to get used to the air.
  4. About three days after the pupal stage begins, the adult mosquito emerges. Female mosquitoes can reproduce and lay eggs for most of her lifetime.
  5. Mosquitoes will die off when temperatures get too cold, they get eaten by a predator, or after one to two months naturally.

How Long Do Mosquitoes Live?

Male mosquitoes feed off of the nectar of plants and live typically for a week or two. Female mosquitoes can live for one to two months. Mosquito eggs can survive for months before hatching, even through cold winter months. If they survive the winter, they will hatch in the spring when temperatures warm up.

Although mosquitoes have a relatively short life cycle, their rapid rate of reproduction keeps mosquito populations constant during the summer months.

How Do Mosquitoes Die?

Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes do not die after biting someone. In fact, a female mosquito will continually feed throughout her lifetime. Mosquito populations die off when the warmer temperatures of spring and summer come to an end. This is because mosquitoes cannot function at temperatures less than 50 degrees. Females can hibernate, and unhatched eggs can survive the winter. 

What is the Lifespan of a Mosquito? in Central Tennessee

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