When does ‘mosquito season’ end in France?

Reader Question: I am tired of mosquitoes buzzing around my garden every time I go outside. Surely the season is coming to an end here?

While the peak of mosquito season may be coming to an end, they are still likely to be spotted for several more months.

Mosquito season in France typically begins in May, when hibernating mosquitoes awaken. 

In recent years, this has happened earlier than usual, due to mild temperatures at the end of winter combined with wet conditions. 

An increased presence is recorded throughout the spring and early summer, before a ‘peak season’ in July and August. This is when the insects are at their most prevalent and most likely to both bite and spread diseases.

From the end of August onwards mosquito populations begin to dwindle and there are several reasons for the drop in population. 

Cooler night-time temperatures (consistently below 13C) impact native culex mosquitoes, making them more sluggish, and at temperatures below 10C activity generally ceases.

Cooler conditions also limit the number of eggs that successfully hatch, as well as the number of larvae that survive. Note this primarily applies to culex populations as they are nocturnal. 

Tiger mosquitoes are diurnal and typically feed in the day, less impacted by cooler nights. 

If the summer has seen a particularly strong drought – as is the case in 2026 – then mosquito populations of both culex and invasive aedes types, such as the tiger mosquito, will also decrease. 

Drought conditions limit the availability of stagnant water sources, the breeding ground where females lay eggs. This is particularly the case if the summer has been hot and smaller stagnant pools have evaporated. 

Official surveillance lasts well into autumn

Despite these limiting factors however, there is still a fairly high chance of mosquitoes being present well into the autumn. 

This is especially true if you suffered through a mosquito issue in the summer – most mosquitoes travel no further than 150 metres in their life, so if you have been plagued throughout the summer there is most likely a breeding ground in the vicinity of your property.

While there is no exact date that mosquitoes are guaranteed to be no longer present, a good benchmark comes from the Santé publique France health authority. 

Each year it records the number of diseases and outbreaks of infectious diseases borne by mosquitoes – West Nile Virus for native culex mosquitoes, and Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, and Zika Virus for tiger mosquitoes. 

The surveillance season starts on May 1 for tiger mosquitoes, and June 1 for culex mosquitoes. 

In both cases however, the season ends on November 30. This is therefore a good estimation for the ‘end’ of the season. 

Beware, however, that in some cases mosquitoes may survive even throughout the winter. 

The likelihood of this increases if you have damp spaces indoors, where stagnant water and warmer conditions may provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes to hatch. 

Tips to reduce mosquito population 

During the autumn and winter months, you should frequently check your property and garden for stagnant water, to reduce breeding sites for the following year. 

Common locations include under plant pots, inside tyres, untreated swimming pools, fountains, etc. 

Ensure you check inside areas too such as cellars, in the event of a water leak that has provided a suitable breeding ground. 

You can read our article here for advice on how to prevent mosquito bites, as well as information about traps to use.