Low temperatures and snow do not hinder the cold-hardy Snow Mosquito from living, feeding, and breeding year-round.

Updated: 8/23/2019; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org

The Snow Mosquito is a special species of mosquito commonly limited to northern portions of the United States. The Snow Mosquito differs from regular summertime mosquitoes in ways that include staying active during the winter months while their counterparts remain dormant or die. Snow Mosquitoes have scales on their bodies. These scales usually appear brown or black which are coupled with another set of scales that are lighter in color; perhaps white, gray or yellow.



Males typically forage for plants and suck out plant juices. The female Snow Mosquito is the one that feeds off of the blood of mammals and birds. These mosquitoes prefer to operate in forested areas and, like their counterparts, utilize open pools of water (in this case, melting snow) to lay their eggs. Larvae hatch in the springtime and consume algae as a temporary diet. They develop into flying adults in nearby water sources.