Mosquito Season in Wyoming

Believe it or not, mosquito season may be here! Mosquitoes start becoming active as soon as temperatures reach a consistent 50 degrees. Only a capful of water is needed to begin the hatching process, so early spring snows can help these annoying pests come out of winter hiding. 

Where did the mosquitos go over the winter?

Female mosquitoes actively seek out and nestle into the prairie, trees, leaves, logs, or other secure locations to initiate their own version of "hibernation." On occasion, they may infiltrate residential spaces such as basements or attics in pursuit of this optimal shelter before entering hibernation mode.

In regions like Wyoming that are characterized by cold temperatures and limited water sources, mosquitoes undergo a phase known as diapause. During diapause, their development is paused, and metabolism slows down. Seeking refuge in a warmer, darker environment, female mosquitoes enter this state and remain there until either the weather becomes warmer or adequate water is available. They can remain in this suspended state for several months until environmental conditions align with the insects' requirements.

It's worth noting that this state isn't akin to the hibernation observed in bears; mosquitoes don't enter a dormant sleep-like state until warmer weather arrives. Instead, they undergo suspended development to shield their bodies from the seasonal changes.

What happens to mosquitoes as temperatures rise?

First, female mosquitoes that hibernated over the winter in Wyoming prairies, trees, leaf cover, and other areas emerge from their dormant state and come out of holes in the ground and their other hiding places.

Second, eggs deposited in the late summer and fall, often in clusters numbering up to 300, rapidly progress through their life stages from larvae to pupae to adult mosquitoes. It takes just a capful of water to start the hatching process. This transition happens fast, with some completing the cycle in just a few days! The speed of their life cycle depends on the species and ambient temperature. Generally, higher temperatures facilitate a quicker progression through the life cycle.

When Does Mosquito Season Begin in Wyoming? 

The onset of mosquito season in the United States may start as early as February in the warmest regions of the country and extend as late as May in the coldest areas (aka Wyoming). Mosquito season in Wyoming can be closely predicted using the USDA Gardening Zones. 

Areas like Laramie, Centennial, Albany, Cheyenne, Douglas, Glenrock, and Casper will begin to see mosquitos hatching as temperatures increase. In warmer years, it could be the middle to end of April. In colder years, it can be as late as the middle to end of May.

Source: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ 

Want to Stay Ahead of Mosquito Season?

Being proactive about your mosquito control is the easiest way to make sure you have a beautiful Wyoming summer without swatting at mosquitos and dousing yourself in deet. Starting to spray for mosquitoes before they become a problem offers several advantages. First, it prevents mosquito populations from reaching high levels, mitigating the need for more aggressive control measures later in the season. Our customers typically report much better results from their mosquito treatments if they are started in May before they are miserable.  Our product binds to the surfaces around your home, and as mosquitos hatch, they land on these surfaces and subsequently die. This prevents the population from escalating further.

Second, by treating in May, we are able to target mosquitoes in their early life stages, such as larvae and pupae, before they mature into biting adults. This allows Southeast Wyoming Mosquito Squad to disrupt the breeding cycle and reduce overall mosquito numbers. 

Early intervention helps to maintain public health by minimizing the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.

If you want to deal with mosquitoes before they become a problem in your area, head over to https://mosquitosquad.com/southeast-wyoming to submit your address for a quote.