Mosquitoes are a summer nuisance in Charlotte. How the weather can make them worse
Perhaps nothing better exemplifies the experience of summer in the Carolinas than venturing outside after a late afternoon thunderstorm clears only to feel like you’re being eaten alive by mosquitoes.
The pesky critters are a ubiquitous nuisance in the region, especially in summer, but some types of seasonal weather can make them especially active. Still, some high temperatures can actually decrease mosquito activity.
And it’s worthwhile to understand when and where they’ll be most prevalent, as they can carry disease in addition to leaving you covered with irritating bites.
Here’s what to know about what types of weather attract mosquitoes:
What weather do mosquitoes like?
Mosquitoes breed rapidly when the weather is warm and humid, the pest control company Orkin advises, a common phenomenon in Charlotte from spring into summer.
“In fact, Charlotte is often cited as having one of the nation’s most serious mosquito problems,” Orkin says.
Once mosquitoes breed and lay their eggs, it takes the eggs “only a few weeks to mature into adults.”
Even mosquitoes can find especially high temperatures too hot, research shows. A 2015 study found they have a “sensitive thermometer” to help them tell when temperatures are reaching an unsafe level for them, near triple digits.
Do mosquitoes come out in the rain?
Mosquitoes like to be around and breed in and near standing water, according to Orkin, so summer rain storms can lead to increased breeding and in turn more mosquitoes.
Orkin recommends that folks “drain standing water in their yards every five days to prevent breeding,” being careful “to check pool covers, old tires and planters for collected rainwater” to limit habitats for mosquitoes.
