Based on where you live, it may seem like the mosquito period runs all year long. For certain states, this may be true but not valid for others. So, which category does Texas fall into? The period during which mosquitoes are active in Texas is between March and October.
Mosquitoes come out of their hiding at the start of spring and stay put till the chilly season arrives. The period from April till September is when you will have to deal with these unwanted guests the most. After this, they will go back into hiding before coming out again during the spring season.
Here, we will look into the period when mosquitoes are most active in Texas, the most common types of mosquitoes found in the State, and how to stop mosquitoes from entering your Texas home. Let’s begin.
When Do Mosquitoes Come Out in Texas?
As mentioned above, the mosquito season in Texas begins in March at the outset of the spring season and ends in October right before the start of fall. The peak activity of these annoying pests in Texas occurs when temperatures are high.
It’s a known fact that temperatures go pretty high in Texas all year round but in the summer months, they reach unbearable levels of as high as 50 degrees. This is the perfect setting for mosquitoes to come out of their hiding. So, what is that time of the year when mosquitoes are most active in Texas? It is when the temperatures are high in State which would typically be the summer months starting from April and ending in September.
While many people enjoy living in a region with warmer climates as it allows them to do so much that people living in colder places cannot do, they have to deal with a major problem that is most prevalent in the warmer region—the problem of a mosquito invasion in homes. To understand the gravity of the problem facing you, you need to know the different species of mosquitoes found in Texas and why they can be a nuisance. This is what we will be discussing next.
The Types of Mosquitoes in Texas
There are more than eighty species of mosquitoes in Texas. However, we will only discuss the four species that are the most common in the State.
Aedes Aegypti
The Aedes Aegypti can be seen along the Texas coasts. Also known as the yellow fever mosquito, the Aedes Aegypti can find many breeding places within a house. This could the canvas sheets in your home, your plants and vases, the flower pot and trays in your home, and the pails inside. Why should you be worried about this species of mosquitoes in Texas? You should be worried because Aedes Aegypti can carry many illnesses, including the dreaded dengue fever and the Zika virus.
Aedes Albopictus
Also referred to as the Asian tiger mosquito, the Aedes Albopictus is another species of mosquitoes that are commonly found in the State of Texas. The single white strip of this mosquito species is where it gets the name ‘tiger’ from. The origins of this mosquito can be traced back to Southeast Asia and it can carry many diseases including dengue fever, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Chikungunya, and West Nile virus.
Culex
The third species of mosquitoes that are commonly found in Texas is the Culex. Also known as the house mosquito, the Culex is most active during the hot summer months. This is because this species of mosquitoes find sources of food by looking for carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and the body heat emitted by them. What time of the year do you think this is most likely to happen? Yes, you guessed it right—the summer season.
An interesting thing to note about the Culex is that the female Culex feeds on the blood of humans while the male Culex survives on plant nectars. The typical breeding sites of this mosquito species include water in tree holes and old tires, ponds, storm drains, and floodwaters. Now comes the most important part: why should you be worried about the house mosquito? You should be worried about it because it can cause many life-threatening diseases including the West Nile River disease, malaria, encephalitis, dengue fever, and yellow fever.
Culex Quinquefasciatus
The fourth and final species of mosquitoes on our list that is commonly found in Texas is the Culex Quinquefasciatus. Also known as the southern mosquito, the Culex Quinquefasciatus is a species of mosquito that shares many attributes with the house mosquito or the Culex.
Therefore, you can expect the Culex Quinquefasciatus to look for sources of food by looking for exhaled CO2 and heat emitted by humans, and breed in tree holes and old tires, ponds, storm drains, and floodwaters. One major difference between the Culex Quinquefasciatus and the house mosquito is that the former generally ventures out during the night while the latter is out all day long. As for the illnesses caused by this species of mosquitoes, the Culex Quinquefasciatus is a bearer of the West Nile River disease and encephalitis.
There it is—the four species of mosquitoes that are commonly found in Texas. While these mosquito species are different in nature and attributes, they can be controlled in the same way. The top ways to prevent a mosquito invasion in your Texas home are discussed next.
How to Stop a Mosquito Invasion in Your Texas Home
There are many ways to prevent a mosquito invasion in your home. However, the following ways are said to be the most effective.
Minimize the Sources of Stagnant Water in Your Home
Many of the species of mosquitoes found in Texas need less than an inch of water to multiply. So, any stagnant water in your home or yard can be the perfect breeding site for them. If there is a lot of stagnant water in your home, then don’t be surprised if you have a mosquito invasion anytime soon.
However, the solution to this problem is extremely simple—make sure there is little or no stagnant water in your home. This will go a long way in helping you prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
Minimize Dampness
In addition to stagnant water, a damp ground is another preferred breeding site for mosquitoes. A mosquito invasion is likely in your home if your backyard has a lot of damp areas. One reason why you may have a lot of damp areas in your backyard is a blocked or malfunctioning sewerage system. Therefore, all homeowners in Texas are recommended to get the sewerage line coming into their home inspected at least once every year. The water must travel down and away from your home.
Minimize the Number of Plants in Your Home
Another reason for mosquito invasion in Texas homes is the presence of a high number of plants there. Why is keeping the plant count low in your Texas home recommended? It is recommended because many species of mosquitoes feed on plant sap and nectar.
Some mosquito species survive on both the plant nectar and human blood. So, there are two precious lives at stake. Don’t risk them. Make sure you have a limited number of plants in your home so that mosquitoes are not attracted to it. When there is no mosquito invasion in your home, the few plants that you have in your home and your health will be protected.
Summary
In this article, we discussed the period during the year when mosquitoes in Texas come out of hiding and are most active. This is usually between March and October. In other words, mosquitoes in Texas are most active during the warmer months.
In addition to discussing the time when mosquitoes come out in Texas, we looked at the four most common species of mosquitoes found in the State, and the best ways to control them to prevent a mosquito invasion in your home. All of the information provided above will prove useful in preventing mosquitoes from entering your Texas home.
Related Questions
What Places and Time of the Year are Mosquitoes the Most Active?
Mosquitoes can be found mostly in places where the temperature is regularly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Many places in the world fit this criterion with Texas being one of them. The time of the year when mosquitoes are most active should be evident by now. They are most active during the warmer month, which generally starts at the outset of spring and ends just before the arrival of fall.