Buzzing and biting are the daily lot of people living in regions invaded by mosquitoes. As well as being a nuisance, these little insects can cause health problems. And if you think they’ll leave you alone in winter, you’d be wrong! Some are still very much with us, even in winter.
A mosquito net for year-round protection
Insects generally can’t stand the cold. They disappear in winter, migrating or hibernating. Others die. However, there are some that can surprise you. Such is the case with mosquitoes. You can find them, even in winter. There are two types of mosquito you may come across during this season: active and inactive. To protect yourself, you can find effective mosquito nets, for example, on this page. But first, understand where the mosquitoes that invade your home come from. Then you can take extra precautions to eradicate them.
Active mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are insects that can’t stand the cold. That’s why they disappear in winter. However, there are areas where mosquitoes are still present. So you’ll be hearing those incessant buzzing sounds, suffering unpleasant bites, despite the cold. In fact, this phenomenon can be explained. The ideal environment for mosquitoes is medium-temperature stagnant water. In winter, puddles and sewers are not suitable for mosquitoes, as they are too cold. Larvae cannot survive there.
However, crawl spaces are ideal for mosquitoes. The larvae develop into adult mosquitoes, which invade your home whatever the season. So if you find mosquitoes in your home in winter, it’s because your crawl space isn’t dry. You need to empty it. If not, the mosquitoes are coming from your neighbors’ crawl space. Even in winter, mosquitoes can fly for a few days, over a distance of around 160 m. This means they can travel from your neighbors’ crawl space to your home.
Inactive mosquitoes
Although some mosquitoes are active in winter, the majority are inactive, or even dead. Mosquitoes can survive if they hibernate. But to do so, they need to find a warm place. When a mosquito hibernates, its life slows down. This is called diapause. It goes into lethargy (for adult mosquitoes). It stops moving. They become active again in spring.
Hibernating mosquitoes don’t feed. So they won’t bite you. Their fat reserves are enough to keep them alive. This reserve was built up before winter. It comes from the sugar found in human blood. This reserve replaces the water in the mosquito’s body, preventing tissue damage in winter. Larval life also slows down in winter. Unlike adult mosquitoes, they don’t fear the cold too much. However, they won’t develop either. They will wait until spring to transform into adult mosquitoes.
