When Do Mosquitoes Go Away?

A person has died from the mosquito-borne virus known as EEE in New York, the state’s first case since 2015 and the second death from the disease in the U.S. since late August.

EEE, short for Eastern equine encephalitis, has been detected in six states this year, per data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it’s just one of a few potentially deadly mosquito-borne diseases currently circulating — prompting many to wonder: When do mosquitos go away in the U.S.?

While the U.S. has officially entered fall, we’re not quite out of mosquito season, experts say. In fact, August and September are the peak months for mosquito-borne illnesses in the U.S. because the populations have had more time to grow and spread viruses than earlier in the season, NBC News reported.

Other diseases spread locally by mosquitos in the U.S. that have made headlines this past spring and summer include: West Nile virus, which has led to 659 cases in 43 states; and dengue fever, which has caused over 3,200 locally acquired cases in two states (California, Florida), the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Here’s what to know about managing the rest of mosquito season.

When do mosquitoes go away?

When mosquitos go away until the next season depends on where you live in the U.S. and how quickly it gets cold.

“The simplest way to answer is that mosquitoes will be active mostly until the first frost. In general, mosquitoes are not active when temperatures are under 50 degrees Fahrenheit,” Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, Ph.D., who works in The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, tells TODAY.com.

“But they don’t die off at 50 degrees. Instead they become dormant, waiting for warmer temperatures. In places like Florida, which may not see a frost each year, mosquitoes are always active. Some species that (pass the winter season) as adults can also become active on warm winter days above 50 degrees,” she adds.

It also may take mosquitos longer to go away where you live due to climate change.

“Warmer temperatures and longer warm seasons extend the length of time each year when mosquitoes are active,” Gangloff-Kaufmann says. “In areas where winters are milder, mosquitoes will emerge earlier and linger longer in late fall.”

When do mosquitoes go away at night?

“There are day-biting and dawn/dusk-biting mosquitoes,” so when after dusk is when mosquitos rest and “go away” at night, Gangloff-Kaufmann explains. The timing of dusk and when it ends will depend on where you live and the time of year.

How to prevent mosquito bites

Health officials in New York, Massachusetts and beyond have urged residents to take steps to prevent bug bites, such as:

• Wearing long, loose-fitting clothing when outdoors
• Minimizing time during peak mosquito hours, including dawn and dusk
• Wearing an EPA-registered insect repellent and clothing or gear treated with permethrin
• Using screens on windows and doors
• Regularly emptying out water-holding containers