Why can artificial night light trick Aedes albopictus eggs into skipping winter dormancy?

Answer: It mimics long-day signals

It warms the eggs — Wrong. Artificial night light is not a significant heat source; it's a light cue. Mosquito eggs respond to day length, not temperature directly, for diapause decisions. The warmth from a streetlamp is negligible compared to seasonal temperature changes.

It mimics long-day signals ✓ — Correct! Aedes albopictus eggs use day length to decide whether to enter diapause (a hardy resting state). Short autumn days signal winter approaching, so eggs normally enter diapause. Artificial night light extends the perceived day length, tricking the eggs into thinking it's still summer. They then skip diapause and develop directly, which can harm their winter survival but may boost populations in mild climates.

It blocks eggshell pores — Wrong. Artificial night light does not physically block eggshell pores. Eggshell pores allow gas exchange, but light doesn't clog them. The effect of light is on the mosquito's internal timing mechanism, not on eggshell structure.