Insects

You leave the porch light on, and minutes later mosquitoes seem to swarm the area. It looks like they’re attracted to the light, but they’re actually attracted to you standing near the light. The relationship between mosquitoes and light is more complicated than most people think – and understanding it can help you make better

Those purple-glowing electric bug zappers are satisfying to watch and even more satisfying to hear. Each snap and crackle means one less pest, right? When it comes to mosquitoes, the answer is disappointing. Bug zappers kill plenty of insects, but mosquitoes make up less than 1% of what they catch. Here’s why, and what actually

Ask most people whether mosquitoes serve any purpose in nature, and you’ll get a firm “absolutely not.” But ecologists paint a more complicated picture. Mosquitoes fill several ecological niches that, if suddenly emptied, would send ripple effects through food webs worldwide. That doesn’t make them pleasant – but it does make them ecologically significant. Quick

The short answer: it depends on the species. Some mosquitoes are most active at night, others at dawn and dusk, and some bite aggressively in broad daylight. Knowing which species are active when helps you protect yourself during the right hours. Quick Answer Not all mosquitoes are nocturnal. Activity patterns vary by species. Culex (house

Whether mosquitoes are active right now depends entirely on where you live and the current temperature. Mosquitoes become active when temperatures consistently stay above 50°F (10°C) and peak during warm, humid weather between 75-85°F (24-29°C). Here’s a regional breakdown of mosquito season timing. Quick Answer Mosquitoes are active when temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C) consistently

You’ve probably heard someone claim “mosquitoes love me because I’m Type O.” It’s one of the most repeated mosquito facts on the internet. But is it actually true? The research is more nuanced than the headlines suggest – blood type does play a small role, but it’s far from the biggest factor determining who gets

Calling mosquitoes “parasites” feels right, but the answer is more nuanced than you’d expect. Technically, female mosquitoes are ectoparasites during the brief period they feed on blood. But they don’t live on their hosts the way ticks or lice do. Here’s how entomologists actually classify them. Quick Answer Female mosquitoes are classified as ectoparasites –