Quick answers
| Question | Answer | Scope | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How long they live | A few weeks for adults in summer. Species that spend the winter as adults live several months. | Mosquitoes in Colorado | Colorado State University Extension | |
| Asian tiger mosquito lifespan | Females can live a month or longer. | Asian tiger mosquito only, South Carolina page | Clemson Cooperative Extension | |
| What they eat | Males eat nectar and pollen. Females eat nectar and pollen too, and also take blood. | Mosquitoes in general, Colorado State page | Colorado State University Extension | |
| Where they breed | In standing water: old tires, tree holes, storm sewers and the weedy edges of ponds. | Mosquitoes in Colorado | Colorado State University Extension | |
| Life cycle | Four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. | All mosquitoes | Colorado State University Extension | |
| How far they fly | Usually a mile or two to feed; a few kinds stay within yards, and some have been seen flying 10 miles or more. | Mosquitoes in general, Colorado State page | Colorado State University Extension | |
| Where they go in winter | Some species wait out the winter as adults in sheltered places such as buildings; others survive as eggs on soil near water. | Mosquitoes in general, Colorado State page | Colorado State University Extension | |
| How fast the eggs hatch | Asian tiger mosquito eggs can hatch within 24 hours. | Asian tiger mosquito only | Clemson Cooperative Extension |
In the sources’ own words
How long they live
Colorado State University Extension, West Nile Virus and Mosquito Management“During the summer, adult mosquitoes have a life span of a few weeks.”
“These overwintering individuals have a life span of several months.”
Scope: Mosquitoes in Colorado
Asian tiger mosquito lifespan
Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), Asian Tiger Mosquito“Females can survive for a month or more.”
Scope: Asian tiger mosquito only, South Carolina page
What they eat
Colorado State University Extension, West Nile Virus and Mosquito Management“Males feed on nectar and pollen. Females feed on nectar, pollen and blood from various hosts.”
Scope: Mosquitoes in general, Colorado State page
Where they breed
Colorado State University Extension, West Nile Virus and Mosquito Management“Mosquito larvae are found in a variety of standing water habitats. Examples include old tires, tree holes, storm sewers, and vegetated edges of ponds.”
Scope: Mosquitoes in Colorado
Life cycle
Colorado State University Extension, West Nile Virus and Mosquito Management“There are four distinct stages in the mosquito life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult.”
Scope: All mosquitoes
How far they fly
Colorado State University Extension, West Nile Virus and Mosquito Management“A few kinds of mosquitoes will fly only a few yards from their larval habitat to take a blood meal. More typically adults will fly a mile or two to feed. However, some mosquitoes have been observed to fly 10 miles or more.”
Scope: Mosquitoes in general, Colorado State page
Where they go in winter
Colorado State University Extension, West Nile Virus and Mosquito Management“Some species overwinter as adults, which seek protected areas such as buildings to spend the winter. Other species overwinter as eggs on soil near bodies of water.”
Scope: Mosquitoes in general, Colorado State page
How fast the eggs hatch
Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), Asian Tiger Mosquito“These eggs can hatch in 24 hours…”
Scope: Asian tiger mosquito only
What these sources do not say
- How long a male mosquito lives compared with a female. The Colorado State figures are for adults in general.
- A lifespan for every species. Only the Asian tiger mosquito gets its own figure here.