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What is the Lifespan of a Mosquito?

Mosquitoes can live for anywhere from a week to two months. During their life cycle, mosquitoes are constantly reproducing, which means a population is always cycling.

After the mosquito eggs hatch, the larvae turn into pupae and eventually become adults in about 14 days. From there, the 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 will die naturally in about one to two months.

The Mosquito Life Cycle

The life cycle of a mosquito takes about two weeks in total. The stages of life are as follows:

  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 materials.
  3. After about a week or 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. Only a day later, the adult mosquitoes are able to breed. Female mosquitoes can reproduce and lay eggs for most of her lifetime. 

Do Mosquitoes Live For A Long Time?

Mosquitoes can live anywhere from a week to a couple of months. Male mosquitoes, which feed off of the nectar of plants, live typically for a week or two. Female mosquitoes, on the other hand, can live for over a month. Mosquito eggs, if they do not hatch, can survive for months at a time before hatching. Although mosquitoes have a relatively short life cycle, their rapid rate of reproduction keeps mosquito populations at a constant during the summer months.

When Do Mosquitoes Die Off?

Many people believe that mosquitoes will die after biting someone, but this is (unfortunately) not the case. In fact, a female mosquito will continually bite and 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 occasionally hibernate, and unhatched eggs can survive the winter.

What Is The Lifespan Of A Mosquito?​ in Bristol TN

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