Do Mosquitoes Sleep? Where They Rest by Day
Mosquitoes do sleep, in their own way. They don't sleep like people, but they settle into a sleep-like rest. In a University of Cincinnati study, lab mosquitoes spent 16 to 19 hours a day in that state, perched with their hind legs drooping. Night biters rest through the day, and day biters rest at night.
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Do Mosquitoes Sleep or Just Rest?
Scientists call it a sleep-like state, and it differs from ordinary resting. Mosquitoes that aren't hunting perch for long stretches to save energy. A sleeping mosquito goes a step further. Its hind legs droop and its body sinks closer to the surface it stands on.
That rest matters to the mosquito. Researchers kept mosquitoes awake by vibrating their cages during their normal sleep hours. The next day, more than 75% of the rested mosquitoes went for a blood meal, but less than a quarter of the tired ones did. The sleep-deprived mosquitoes also landed on a host less often, according to the University of Cincinnati's mosquito sleep study. Like people, mosquitoes catch up on lost sleep, a pattern scientists call sleep rebound.
Day Biters and Night Biters in DFW
DFW yards have both kinds. The Asian tiger mosquito, a black-and-white mosquito, was first documented in the United States in Texas in 1985. It feeds mostly in the early morning and late afternoon, according to the University of Florida's Asian tiger mosquito profile. Its cousin, the yellow fever mosquito, also bites by day. The southern house mosquito works the opposite shift and bites from dusk to dawn.
The table below compares the three mosquitoes that Dallas and Tarrant county health departments track by name.
| Mosquito | When it bites | Where it rests | Diseases it can spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) | Day, peaking early morning and late afternoon | Outdoors, in shady shrubs near the ground | Dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever |
| Yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) | Day | Indoors and outdoors, close to people | Same as the Asian tiger mosquito |
| Southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) | Dusk to dawn | Grass, shrubs and thick vegetation that stay cool and humid | West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis |
Tarrant County, which includes Southlake, counts about 45 mosquito species, so these three are only part of the picture. Still, the pattern is useful. A bite in the shade at noon points to a day biter like the Asian tiger mosquito. A bite on the patio after dark points to a night biter like Culex.
Where Do Mosquitoes Go During the Day?
Night biters spend the day somewhere cool, dark and humid. The CDC says Culex mosquitoes rest in grass, shrubs and other thick vegetation. Mosquito districts add the space under buildings, sheds, and dark, quiet rooms indoors. Mosquitoes avoid hot, dry sun and wind, so shade and still air decide where they wait out the day.
Day biters rest too, just on a different clock. Asian tiger mosquitoes rest in shady shrubs near the ground. Yellow fever mosquitoes often stay close to people, indoors as well as out.
In a typical DFW yard, that points to a short list. Dense shrubs along the foundation, ground cover under trees, shaded plants, the shady side of a fence line and the space under a deck are the usual resting spots. Tarrant County Public Health even collects resting mosquitoes with aspirators, small suction devices, as part of its disease surveillance.
Why Mosquitoes Seem to Never Sleep
With day biters and night biters sharing the same yard, some mosquito is almost always awake. Asian tiger mosquitoes take the morning and late afternoon shift. Culex mosquitoes take over at dusk and keep biting a few hours into the dark, and some stay active until dawn.
Feeding also changes the schedule. A female that finishes a blood meal goes off to rest and digest it, then looks for water to lay her eggs. So the mosquito that bit you at dusk may spend the next day or two resting in your shrubs.
Plan Around When Mosquitoes Rest
Their schedule tells you when to protect yourself. Use an EPA-registered repellent for midday yard work in the shade, not just for evening cookouts, because Asian tiger mosquitoes bite in daylight. After dark, repellent and long sleeves matter most on the patio. Thinning overgrown shrubs and clearing clutter under decks also leaves mosquitoes fewer cool, shady places to wait out the day.
Resting spots are also where our treatment goes. Each month from April to October, a technician treats the shade where adult mosquitoes spend the day and refills the MosquitoCon stations that keep larvae from maturing. Homeowners near Southlake can read about mosquito control in Southlake, and anyone in DFW can see how our mosquito program works. Pricing for a season of visits takes about a minute online.
Mosquito Sleep FAQ
Do mosquitoes rest after biting?
Yes. A female with a full blood meal goes off to rest and digest it. She usually rests for a couple of days before she lays her eggs.
What time of night do mosquitoes go away?
Evening biting is heaviest from dusk into the first few hours of dark. Southern house mosquitoes can stay active until dawn, so a late night on the patio isn't bite-free. Day biters like the Asian tiger mosquito are mostly done by dark.
Where do mosquitoes hide in your house?
Indoors, mosquitoes rest in dark, quiet spots. In one study, yellow fever mosquitoes gathered at the base of walls, within about 8 inches of the floor. They stayed even lower as temperatures rose.
Where do mosquitoes go during the winter?
Mosquitoes stop flying when temperatures drop below about 50°F. Some Culex females spend the winter as adults in sheltered spots, and Aedes eggs can survive a southern winter. In DFW, a few warm, rainy days above 60°F can hatch eggs in any month, even January.
