How long does mosquito season last in New Jersey?

As Jack Frost takes his leave on the brisk winds of March, the days become warmer. Unfortunately, it also marks the dreaded return of mosquitos. Just the thought of these buzzing bloodsuckers makes you itch. A word mosquito is a diminutive form of the Old Latin word for fly, so it means “little fly.”

Scientists have identified as many as 3,500 species spanning the globe. Although these pests have been known to humans since prehistoric times, it wasn’t until 1897 when Sir Ronald Ross discovered they spread deadly malaria. Did you know that over sixty species of mosquitoes call the Garden State home? These insects are a bother, but they carry potentially lethal diseases that make their presence even more dreaded.

Source: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

April Showers Bring Mosquito Power

Spring is usually the mating season for most animals and insects. The season for mosquitoes is generally from April until October in the Northeastern part of the county. If the weather is unusually warm in March, they may start reproducing earlier.

That means you’ll need your bug spray and mosquito netting for at least seven months. The more you know about these bothersome biters, the more you’ll be prepared to combat them. Now’s the best time to plan to minimize their nuisance and health threats.

The Terrible Three

Three are the most prolific of the dozens of mosquito species buzzing through New Jersey. They’re not difficult to identify once you know their features. These are the “terrible three” you’ll probably see this spring and might even have an intimate encounter.

1. Asian Tiger Mosquito

Source: The Ohio State University, CFAES

Scientific Name: Aedes albopictus

When you’re working or playing outside around the water, you’re bound to encounter this pesky parasite. Asian tiger mosquitos proliferate in these areas, and they are out for blood. They are incredibly thirsty at the peak of the mating season.

Description: You can identify Asian tiger mosquitoes by name-sake black stripes on their bodies and legs. They are usually about a quarter of an inch long.

Hazards: Asian tiger mosquitos may be tiny, but they are gigantic harbingers of deadly blood-borne diseases. Among these are encephalitis, yellow fever, and the West Nile virus. They may even carry the Zika virus, leading to an incurable infection that causes congenital disabilities.

2. White-Footed Woods Mosquito

Scientific Name: Psorophora ferox

Description: These medium-sized mosquitoes have white tips on their six legs.

Hazards: While this mosquito doesn’t carry as many diseases as its striped cousin, it has a more voracious appetite. White-footed wood mosquitos are aggressive and inflict painful bites. It has the potential of transferring the Western Nile and equine encephalitis viruses.

3. Cattail Mosquitos

Source: University of Florida, IFAS

Scientific Name: Coquillettidia perturbans

Description: These aggressive pests are named because their eggs and larvae depend on aquatic vegetation, like cattails. They have a dull brown color with pale stripes.

Hazards: Besides being so bloodthirsty, cattail mosquitoes also carry equine encephalitis viruses, Western Nile, and other serious diseases.

Life Cycle of Mosquitoes

Source: Purdue University

In as little as two days after mosquitos have matured into adulthood, they seek a mate. The male mosquitos recognize females by listening to the vibration of their wings. After mating, the males have completed their purpose and die within two to three days.

• Mating Rituals

Before the mated female can lay her eggs, she needs a human or animal blood. The heat from the body and the exhaled carbon dioxide attracts her for a crimson feast. She used her tiny mouthpiece to pierce the skin and suck a bit of blood to nourish her body.

• Egg

Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs, preferably still or stagnant pools. Depending on the species, the impregnated female will lay as many as 50-200 eggs for her first brood. Some species lay single eggs while others lay theirs in connected strings.

Warm temperatures and moisture allow the eggs to hatch between 24-72 hours. Some species are so determined that any eggs laid on the ground can survive for years until they are hydrated and hatch.

• Larvae

The eggs will be incubated in warm water during the next three to five days. If they were a late-season brood, they might not hatch until the following spring. However, they hatch quickly during the spring and summer.

If you’ve been around ponds and streams, you’re familiar with the bitsy worms wiggling on the water’s surface. These wiggly worms are most likely to be mosquito larvae. Since hundreds of females can lay eggs in any given water space, it can become a virtual nursery of thousands of these larvae.

For the next seven to ten days, the larvae will feed on microscopic plant matter on the water’s surface. Many don’t survive because they make tasty treats for fish and other aquatic life. Unfortunately, many more do survive and morph into their pupae stage.

• Pupae

You can also see the tiny mosquito pupae encased in their wrappings and floating on the water. Within two to three days, they will break through these shells as fully formed adult mosquitos with wings. Both males and females feed on plant nectar, but only females bite for blood from humans and animals.

Most mosquito species spend less than a month in this perpetual life cycle from egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Newly mature females can often travel for several miles to mate and lay their eggs. Depending on the species, they can have up to ten broods in their lifespan of one to three months.

Offense is the Best Defense

Mosquito season in New Jersey can present serious health risks to you, your family, and your pets. Not only do they carry a host of dangerous blood-borne diseases to humans, but they can carry heartworms to your beloved pets. Your best bet is to stop the mosquitos at their breeding source.

1. Eliminate Standing Water

Keep your family and pets safe by eliminating any source of standing water. Get rid of old tires, buckets, or any junk around your yard that can collect rainwater. Fill in any holes in your yard or the concrete, so mosquitos have no watery havens to lay their eggs.

2. Biological Insecticides

What if you have birdbaths, ponds, creeks, or other water features on your property? You can buy biological pellets to put in these that will kill mosquito larvae but are completely safe for birds, fish, and other animals. Plus, you needn’t worry about it seeping into your water supply.

3. How to Protect Yourself

Do you want to make you, your family, and your pets less like a snack to a hungry mosquito? Wear light-colored clothes outdoors during mosquito season to make yourself less noticeable. You may also consider staying indoors during peak afternoon hours.

Use a safe mosquito repellent spray each time you go outdoors. You can also find safe sprays for your pets formulated for animals. Fix holes in your window and door screens and use mosquito netting indoors if necessary.

Protecting Your Area

Since every mosquito season in New Jersey poses a potential threat of infestation, you may need professional services. Get rid of these bitsy flying vampires and keep your family safe. You’ll have fewer itchy bites while you’re making memories with your loved ones.

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