What Do Mosquitoes Eat?

Here’s a shocking fact you might not know about mosquitoes: only the females feed on blood, and only when they’re ready to reproduce. Male mosquitoes feed mostly on nectar. Their proboscis is not long or sharp enough to pierce human skin.

For the most part, mosquitoes are similar to other insects in their dietary preferences:

• As larvae, mosquitoes feed on algae, bacteria, and other organic material in the water within which they live
• In the pupal stage, mosquitoes do not eat at all
• Both male and female adult mosquitoes feed on nectar from flowering plants
• In addition to human blood, female mosquitoes also feed on birds, small mammals, snakes, and more

Do Mosquitoes Only Feed on Blood?

This is a common misconception. In reality, blood makes up a small percentage of female mosquitoes’ diet. In fact, the only time mosquitoes feed on blood is when the female is ready to reproduce. Male mosquitoes do not feed on blood ever.

Mosquitoes need to steadily consume sugar in order to survive. They get that sugar mostly from nectar, plant sap, and honeydew.

Male vs. Female Mosquito Diet

Male and female mosquitoes have different nutritional needs throughout their life cycle:

• Female mosquitoes must have a blood meal to reproduce. After the meal, they can breed and lay eggs. Nectar is also a significant part of female mosquitoes’ diet
• Male mosquitoes do not feed on blood. Instead, they rely on sugar from plant nectar. They use their proboscis to retrieve nectar from plants

Need a Pest Control Estimate?

Get Started with Arrow

×

Ready for your FREE quote?  516-593-7770

Leave your information below and we’ll be in touch with a FREE quote!

"*" indicates required fields

LinkedIn

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Phone*

Street Address*

This field is hidden when viewing the form

State*

StateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific

Zip Code*

Problem Pest*

Problem PestAntsBed BugsBeesBirdsCockroachesMosquitoesRodentsSpidersTermitesOther

This field is hidden when viewing the form

New Customer?*

New Customer?YesNo

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Office to Contact?*

Office to Contact?YesNo

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Residential/Commercial*

Residential/CommercialResidentialCommercial

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Company Name

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Comments

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Coupon Select*

Coupon Select

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Location Select*

Location Select

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Referral Name

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Referral #*

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Referral Email*

Consent

I want to receive marketing communications from Arrow Exterminating (you can change your preferences at any time, please allow 14 working days).

Get A FREE quote

Δ

*During normal business hours. After hours calls will be returned the next business day.

Close Window

What Happens When Mosquitoes Can't Feed?

If a female mosquito stops feeding, it may die within days. When in a dormant stage during the winter, however, they can go for months without eating. In general, mosquitoes need to be constantly finding new sources of food.

Don’t risk becoming a food source for mosquitoes on your own property. Contact your local mosquito control experts today!