Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Mosquitoes can go from egg to adult in just a little over a week. Mated females lay their eggs, 50-200 at a time in water. Eggs hatch in two or three days into wrigglers – they really do wriggle around when disturbed. These feed on organic debris in water, then pupate. Pupa, when disturbed, sink down into the water, and are called tumblers. As soon as they hatch they’re looking for food. Females need a blood meal before laying eggs. Males sip nectar for their sustenance. It can take as little as a week for mosquitoes to go from egg to adult so you must be Johnny on the Spot about emptying bird baths, dog dishes, wading pools, and children’s plastic toys. Even then, a lush garden, as beautiful as it is to the eyes, is still a haven for these pests.
A Short Window of Time for Controlling Mosquitoes
