How long do mosquitoes live?

How long do mosquitoes live? It's one of the questions our pest control specialists at Ehrlich get asked the most. The truth is, the mosquito lifespan depends on whether or not the mosquito is male or female. The mosquito life cycle for a female can last anywhere from 42 - 56 days. For the male mosquito, the average lifespan is only about 10 days.

The best way to prevent these mosquitoes from living so long in your yard is to eliminate any stagnant water around your home. This will reduce the suitable conditions for egg-laying. Eliminating the problem at the beginning of the mosquito life cycle will eliminate further mosquito issues down the road.

The mosquito life cycle

Mosquitoes start out their lives as eggs and when they are first born, they are aquatic. Female mosquitoes will lay eggs in any standing water they find. They typically do not need much water in which to lay the eggs – a rain shower and the subsequent puddles will do the trick! Mosquitoes must lay their eggs in stagnant water which means even a small disturbance is enough to destroy the eggs or prevent a female from laying eggs in the first place. 

Once the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge swimming in the stagnant water. Sometimes they are eaten by fish (depending on the water source), but if they survive, the mosquito larvae float close to the surface. Their bodies adapt to breathing near the surface of the water and from there, the larvae molt and grow.

Once the mosquitoes reach the pupa stage, they enter a resting mode. During this stage, the mosquito can move, but does not feed. When the pupa changes into an adult, and their legs and wings form, they come to the surface and rest on the top of the water to dry.  Once their wings are dry, the pupa fly into the air in search of blood meals to help them grow and eventually mate, lay eggs, and start the cycle all over again.

Ehrlich: Your local mosquito control experts

If you want to make sure that your outdoor spring or summer activities are not bothered by mosquitoes, the most effective way is to contact your local Ehrlich Pest Control office. We will inspect your property and find the most likely areas where mosquitoes may be laying eggs or resting during the day. We can get rid of them and help prevent the problem from returning.