When Do Mosquitoes Come Out: Catching Active Hours

Learn when do mosquitoes come out to fight the annoying insects when they aren't ready to protect themselves
By
Phyllis McMahon
Phyllis McMahon
Research Writer
Phyllis teaches English Literature at a local college and loves writing in her free time. She’s also a great cook – her British beef Wellington is something the best res read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Chas Kempf
Chas Kempf
Expert Consultant
Chas works in a professional pest control company and knows all the nuances of this job. Also, he’s a fantastic tennis player and loves to organize BBQ parties for his fam read more
Last updated: September 08, 2023
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There are over 3,500 mosquito species worldwide, and more than 170 of these species are found in the US territories. From 2004 to 2018, there were several reports of Chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses in the United States. There is no specific medicine or vaccine available for most viruses that are spread by mosquitoes. When do mosquitoes come out? The best way to keep you and your family safe is to know when the mosquito season starts and ends and the times these pests are most active.

Mosquito season is determined by the climate of a particular region. In the U.S., it mostly starts in the summer and ends in the fall although in some states, it might start much earlier in the spring once temperatures reach 50°F. Find out the mosquito season in various regions so you can prepare yourself accordingly. We will also explain what makes mosquitoes active and why.

What Makes Mosquitoes Come Out?

Let’s look at when Zika mosquitoes and other species come out and the factors that increase their growth and activity.

Location

Your location determines what month mosquitoes come out; in the U.S., it could start in February or late May in the hottest and coldest areas respectively. According to the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Trusted Source Why Are Mosquitoes So Thirsty For Our Blood, and What Does It Mean for the Way They Spread Disease? - New York Stem Cell Foundation Several infectious diseases such as Zika, dengue, yellow fever, and Chikungunya virus are transmissible through mosquito bites. Not all types of mosquitoes bite humans, however, and the reasons why some show a preference for biting us is not well understood. nyscf.org , mosquitoes are most active in areas that are densely populated.

When are mosquitoes least active? Mosquitoes tend to be less active in the parts of the country with windy or sunny weather or little standing water or dense vegetation.

We will classify mosquito seasons into five areas to give you an idea of when you can expect to see mosquitoes in the state you reside.

Dampness

When Do Mosquitoes Come Out: Catching Active Hours

Mosquitoes start to come out when temperatures reach 50°F and above, and thrive at temperatures above 70°F. If where you live has frequent rain and high temperatures, it might seem like you will never get rid of mosquitoes because moist and humid conditions provide the optimal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Depending on the species, mosquitoes lay and hatch their eggs in wet soil or standing water. Stagnant water from blocked drains can also increase mosquito activity; since young mosquitoes stay in the water for approximately ten days, you can prevent mosquitoes by getting rid of pooled water as soon as possible.

Human blood provides the protein that female mosquitoes need for their eggs. When mosquitoes come out during the day, it is mostly at sunrise and sunset. The rest of the day they hide in shady places such as tall grass, untrimmed bushes and piles of leaves or underneath porches to avoid heat from direct sunlight. Bright light and clothing can deter mosquitoes from biting you. ThermaCELL Trailblazer Camp Lantern even comes with 1 butane cartridge and 3 insect repellent mats.

Mosquito activity is determined by different weather conditions. For instance, although a wet environment might cause the proliferation of mosquitoes, dry weather dehydrates them and makes them bite more to quench their thirst.

 Your blood makes you an easier target since it is harder for them to find sources of water in longer, hotter seasons Trusted Source Thirsty mosquitoes may bite more in droughts A new study found that while female mosquitoes need the protein in blood to lay eggs, they also bite you to stay hydrated. medicalxpress.com .

Temperature

Do mosquitoes come out when it’s hot? As previously mentioned, wet weather provides a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes and dry weather increases the rate at which they bite us and consequently, the chance of them spreading diseases. Either way, mosquitoes come out in warm seasons, whether dry or wet. The female mosquitoes come out of their winter hibernation and the warm weather speeds up the life cycle transition of eggs to mosquitoes. You can control mosquitoes with the best mosquito killer sprays hat kill both mosquito larvae and flying mosquitoes.

64°F to 93°F is considered the perfect temperature for mosquitoes, and the temperature when mosquitoes come out the most is around 80°F. The other effect of high temperature is that it makes mosquito borne diseases more transmissible as the mosquitoes increase their biting activity.

Time of day

When do mosquitoes come out, at night or during the day? Mosquitoes are most prevalent around early morning, late evening and at night when they can avoid dehydration from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and possibly high daytime temperatures. However, what time mosquitoes come out also depends on other factors such as the weather and the mosquito species. You might notice increased mosquito activity throughout the day on cloudy days or at either sunrise or sunset or at night, depending on the species. Otherwise, the best time to enjoy outdoor activities with your loved ones without mosquito bites is in the middle of a bright and sunny day. Alternatively, you could spray the area with the best mosquito foggers that will protect you for about 72 hours for uninterrupted fun.

When Do Mosquitoes Come Out by State?

Do mosquitoes come out during the day? Yes, they do. However, the exact time will depend on the month and your location. Below is a useful guide on how mosquito seasons vary from one region or state to another, and even from one year to another.

Area 1

When do mosquitoes start to come out in Texas, Florida, Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi, Louisiana, and other southern parts of the country? This region has warm, wet and humid weather that starts drawing mosquitoes in early February and the mosquito season extends to November. This area includes areas near the Gulf of Mexico. To kill and keep mosquitoes away from your property, check out Mosquito X Ultra, a natural insecticide with built-in repellent, and you only need a fluid ounce of it to cover an acre.

Area 2

When do mosquitoes come out in Georgia, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South California and the rest of Texas, Louisiana and Florida? Similar to area 1 regions, area 2 states in the south and southwest part of the country have warm weather that makes the mosquito season to start early. The season begins in early March and lasts to September.

Area 3

When Do Mosquitoes Come Out: Catching Active Hours

The west, Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions form the largest part of the country. The temperatures in these areas are mild to cold, and this means they reduce mosquito activity. So, when do mosquitoes come out in Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Colorado, Tennessee, Missouri, south Ohio, Kentucky, Nevada, Nebraska, Utah, NC, PA, lower half of Illinois, Maryland, and Arkansas? Mosquitoes come out when it’s hot and mosquito season in these regions is from April to September. If you live in these states, you should check out the best mosquito killers with various coverage areas and active components that will effectively keep the mosquitoes at bay.

Area 4

Talking about mosquitoes, when do they come out in Michigan, northern and central parts of PA, Washington, D.C., Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, lower half of Idaho, Rhode Island, and the rest of New York, Michigan, South Dakota, southern Wyoming, Oregon, and Iowa? Mosquito season in these regions starts in late April.

Area 5

Area 5 is made up of northern Midwest, New England and Pacific Northwest regions which have the shortest mosquito seasons that also start much later in the year; from early May to September. Now you know when mosquitoes come out in Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, NJ, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut Trusted Source State Reports Positive Mosquitoes for West Nile Virus in Four Connecticut Towns First WNV-Positive Mosquito Pools of Season portal.ct.gov , New York, and the top half of Idaho.

We can credit the short season to the cooler temperatures of these states across the top of the United States.

Alaska also has one of the shortest seasons. If you are wondering about when mosquitoes come out in Alaska, well their season lasts from late May to early August.

Final Thoughts

Mosquitoes are least active on sunny days or in windy conditions. Excessive heat is not conducive for mosquitoes because it dehydrates them. They thrive best at specific temperatures, especially if there is also standing water where they can lay eggs. Mosquito borne diseases include Zika virus and West Nile virus; the latter is the most common disease caused by mosquitoes in the United States. You can adopt preventative measures such as getting rid of standing water or accumulated debris that could collect water and form puddles. Also, cover any container that has water and keep the drain clean. When do mosquitoes come out? We have listed the months for mosquito seasons in various states across the country as well as the peak mosquito hours so you can avoid them.

 

References

1.
Why Are Mosquitoes So Thirsty For Our Blood, and What Does It Mean for the Way They Spread Disease? - New York Stem Cell Foundation
Several infectious diseases such as Zika, dengue, yellow fever, and Chikungunya virus are transmissible through mosquito bites. Not all types of mosquitoes bite humans, however, and the reasons why some show a preference for biting us is not well understood.
2.
Thirsty mosquitoes may bite more in droughts
A new study found that while female mosquitoes need the protein in blood to lay eggs, they also bite you to stay hydrated.
3.
State Reports Positive Mosquitoes for West Nile Virus in Four Connecticut Towns
First WNV-Positive Mosquito Pools of Season
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