Mosquito Habitats and Life Cycle

Natural Habitats Mosquitoes thrive in a wide range of aquatic environments. A good rule of thumb is: "Wherever you find water, there's likely a species of mosquito that will breed there." Swamps and marshes provide ideal breeding sites for permanent water mosquitoes, offering vegetation for protection from predators. In shallower areas, floodwater mosquitoes can breed in great abundance.

Man-Made Habitats Poor drainage creates excellent mosquito breeding grounds. Any item that can hold standing water - including flower pots, trash cans, tires, unmaintained pools, and ditches - can become a mosquito nursery.

Life Cycle The mosquito life cycle progresses rapidly through four stages:

• Eggs
• Larvae (wigglers)
• Pupae (tumblers)
• Adults

This cycle can complete in as little as 7 days, making weekly evaluation of outdoor areas crucial to reduce potential breeding sites.

• Preventing Mosquito Bites To avoid mosquito bites:
• Limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn
• Use CDC-approved repellents
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing

For more information on repellent recommendations and application guidelines, please refer to our additional resources.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases While mosquitoes can transmit various diseases, the most common in our area is West Nile Virus. Stay informed about local mosquito-borne disease risks and take appropriate precautions to protect yourself and your community.

Additional Useful Links

• AerialTrialPoster 2016
• Surveillance and Container Assessments for the Prevention of Mosquito-borne Disease
• Copepod Poster