Where Do Mosquitoes Live?

close-up of mosquito on a plant

While most mosquitoes live far, far away, there are a number of them that clearly like to live near people. The reason is simple: They want human blood to fertilize their eggs. At the same time, there are species of mosquitoes that transmit diseases, such as malaria, that can be deadly to humans. With that in mind, you will want to know where mosquitoes live near you.

Tired of mosquitoes appearing out of nowhere inside your home? Check out our personal experience to know where to look for them.

Where Do Mosquitoes Live?

Do you ever wonder just where these pesky creatures hang out all day? There are three main areas they call home. Let’s dive in.

Near the Home

There are some areas that you can see from your house, but aren’t a part of it. Say, a nearby woods (something that might have caused you to move into the area). Not only does it have trees, but it has old trees … the kinds that have the knot holes that mosquitoes love. There are often ponds, hollow logs, uprooted trees, tall grass, and other mosquito habitats.

On top of that, there are places we use to store things such as boats and firewood, and to keep a cistern.

Here is a list of places near the home that will serve as a nesting place for mosquitoes, to lay eggs, but also as a resting place, to use as a home during the heat of the day:

Mosquito habitats NEAR the home
Photo Credit: Doc Searls / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 with text overlay created on Canva Pro
  • At the base of vegetation in places that periodically flood. 
  • Trees that were uprooted leave depressions that collect seepage and rainwater. 
  • Tree stumps left behind and decaying.  
  • Swamps and other standing water 
  • Streams that move slowly and other bodies of water
  • Ditches. If stagnant water lasts for a week or they were washed with floodwater
  • Any artificial container. Mosquitoes can deposit their eggs above the water line, waiting as long as eight months for the water to rise enough to hatch them. 
  • Tree holes. Plug them to prevent water from pooling inside.
  • Tire swings or old tires that have been discarded.
  • Cisterns. Covers should fit tightly and screens should be intact.
  • Canoes and other boats. Turn them over.
  • Tarps on wood piles or in the yard.
  • Watering troughs for animals. Flush them twice a week.

Outside the Home

As soon as you step outside your door (front or back!), there are places where mosquitoes gather. A primary one is anyplace on which water sits, such as your lawn if there has been too much rain, or too many turns of the sprinkler.

Mosquito habitat OUTSIDE the house
Photo Credit: David Sawyer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 with text overlay created on Canva Pro
  • Irrigated places. If your irrigation process results in standing water, you are over-irrigating, and likely will attract mosquitoes. 
  • Shaded, bushy areas. In the city or out in the country, it is where mosquitoes rest during the day.
  • Places on bodies that have perfumes, hair sprays, colognes, lotions and soaps. They all attract mosquitoes.
  • Trash cans. Don’t allow water to sit in the bottom.
  • Flat roofs. Remove any standing water from them.
  • Air conditioners. They can produce puddles
  • Outdoor faucets, especially ones that leak.
  • Pool covers.
  • Wading pools, especially if they haven’t been used for days.
  • Toys left about as they are no longer played with
  • Bottle caps lying around (Yes, mosquito eggs hatch in only a bottle cap’s worth of water)
  • Buckets (or turned over so water doesn’t gather)
  • Roof gutters, perhaps as part of regular maintenance
  • Rain spouts or downspouts. Clear any clogs inside of them.
  • Plastic sheeting that catches water.
  • Wheelbarrows left in the yard
  • Rain barrels: Add a larvicide. Bti larvicides are safe and effective.
  • Bird baths. Change the water twice a week (and the birds prefer fresh water). Bti larvicides are safe here, too.
  • Tin cans
  • Car bodies

Inside the Home

You certainly don’t want mosquitoes to live in your house, but you do open the door all the time (or at least any time you want to go in or go out), so they will make their way in. Once in, they will find the places they like, and may well take over.

You should make yourself aware of the places in which they like to hang out, and look for them.

Mosquito habitats INSIDE a house
Photo Credit: victorzastolskiy / Canva Pro / License with text overlay created on Canva Pro
  • Vases. Empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water, such as vases 
  • Flowerpots. Especially the saucers they sit in. Or fill to the brim with sand to avoid standing water in the saucers.
  • Pet water dishes. Check them when you fill them. If you aren’t filling one, turn it over.
  • Under sinks
  • In showers
  • In closets
  • Under furniture
  • In the laundry room
  • In the basement

Firsthand Experience: How I Uncovered a Mosquito Hideout

Maria Isabela Reis, LawnStarter writer
Maria Isabela Reis

Every night, as I wind down for bed, I embark on a ritual — a meticulous mosquito check. With a detective’s keen eye, I scan my bedroom, ensuring it’s a mosquito-free zone. Why? Because there’s nothing that annoys me like the maddening buzz of a mosquito. It’s like they’re tiny, winged taunters mocking my attempts to sleep.

Despite my nightly inspections, these pesky invaders always seem to materialize out of thin air. It’s as if they possess some mystical power of invisibility, only revealing themselves when the lights go out.

The plot thickened recently when I uncovered their secret hideout — my bathroom! The dark, humid haven of my shower area was the perfect breeding ground for these sneaky bloodsuckers. So, let my nocturnal battles serve as a cautionary tale. Next time you’re on a mosquito hunt, don’t forget to peek into those humid, dark nooks, particularly your bathroom.

Maria Isabela Reis


How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

So, you have mosquitoes and want to give these uninvited guests the boot, but how? There are steps you can take to keep mosquitoes from making their way into your yard or house, or to remove them once they have appeared. Check out our comprehensive guide on How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Indoors and Out for options and instructions.

Life Cycle of the Mosquito

graphic showing a mosquito life cycle

All mosquito species go through four distinct stages during their life cycle, according to the EPA:

  • Egg, which hatches when exposed to water. 
  • Larvae, also known as the “wriggler,” live in water
  • Pupae stage, during which the creature does not feed.
  • Adults. The only time the mosquito leaves water. 

Only the female mosquito feeds on human blood, but she must have water to lay her eggs. Eliminate standing water to stop the life cycle of mosquitoes around your home and lawn.

The Cost of Treating for Mosquitoes

Mosquito treatment costs an average of $350 to $550, depending on the following factors of your mosquito problem:

  • Area’s size 
  • Weather, especially the humidity
  • Method of treatment that is used
  • Type of treatment
  • Level of infestation
  • Control company
  • Products that are utilized
Mosquito TreatmentCost
National average cost$450
Typical price range$350-$550
Extreme low-end cost$80
Extreme high-end cost$1,600

FAQs

Where are Mosquitoes’ Favorite Places to Live?

• Pools created by melting snow or rain
• Streambeds and river banks
• Irrigated fields
• Containers that catch water in the rain
• Tree holes in which water collects

How Often Should You Check for Casual Water?

Once a week you should make it a point to empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out anything that holds water, such as the base of a flowerpot or discarded toys or bottle caps, the CDC recommends. It removes places that could be used for mosquito eggs and mosquito larvae.

Are There Smells That Will Drive Mosquitoes Out of the House?

Lavender and peppermint. Mosquitoes truly hate those smells and humans seem to like them, so you can put them around the house to ward off mosquito bites throughout mosquito season.

Where Do Mosquitoes Go in the Winter?

Mosquitoes hibernate to live through the winter. Mosquitoes are:

Active at 80 degrees or more
Sluggish at 60 degrees
Passive below 50 degrees 

Mosquitoes and their eggs will stay under the ice, coming to life when that ice melts come spring.

Why Don’t Raindrops Kill Mosquitoes?

Raindrops are so big and mosquitoes are so small that you would think a collision would result in death to either male mosquitoes or female mosquitoes. However, a scientific study found that mosquitoes are too small: They have such little mass that they can let themselves be absorbed and then go along for the ride.

As a do-it-yourself project, you can do the things needed for mosquito control. If you decide the project is too large, or will take time and knowledge that you don’t have, then call in a professional. To find a mosquito service near you, contact Pest Gnome to connect you with a professional in your area. 

Main Photo Credit: Egor Kamelev from Pexels / Canva Pro / License

Ted Rodgers

Ted Rodgers has been an editor and writer for a half century at least, and has had to deal with pests throughout. His home is still standing, which is one (small) definition of success in dealing with them. He is willing to pause in his battles long enough to share what he has learned. He borrows from Beatrix Potter when he shares this truth about pests: “Tiddly, widdly, but not piddly.”