MOSQUITO

The life of a mosquito is divided into four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Egg Stage: Adult female mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, such as ponds, lakes, and even the smallest of containers, for example flower pots, buckets, and tires. Mosquito eggs hatch into larva within 48 hours to a week depending on the temperature.

Larva Stage: The larva lives in the water, and it feeds on organic matter in the water. The larva moults four times, and the last moult gives rise to the pupa.

Pupa Stage: The pupa lives in the water for several days, and it does not feed. During this stage, the pupa's organs develop, and the mosquito metamorphoses into an adult.

Adult Stage: The adult mosquito emerges from the pupa and flies out of the water. Only females feed on the blood of humans and animals to produce eggs. Males feed on plant nectar. The mosquito's lifespan varies, but most adult mosquitoes live for around two weeks to a month.

After mating, the female seeks to lay eggs in still water, the circle of life continues

The Aedes mosquitoes have 4 life stages: egg, larva , pupa and adult. Mosquitoes can live and reproduce inside and outside the home. The entire life cycle, from an egg to an adult, takes approximately 8-10 days.

Few animals on Earth evoke the antipathy that mosquitoes do. Their itchy, irritating bites and nearly ubiquitous presence can ruin a backyard barbecue or a hike in the woods. They have an uncanny ability to sense our murderous intentions, taking flight and disappearing milliseconds before a fatal swat. And in our bedrooms, the persistent, whiny hum of their buzzing wings can...

The average adult female mosquito can live up to 42-56 days. That means a single female mosquito can potentially survive in your house for almost two months. Outside, mosquitoes will only live in temperatures over 50°F, but preferably 80°F.

The mosquito life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Eggs are laid on the water surface; they hatch into motile larvae that feed on aquatic algae and organic material. These larvae are important food sources for many freshwater animals, such as dragonfly nymphs, many fish, and some birds such as ducks.

Egg - hatches when exposed to water.

Larva - (plural: larvae) "wriggler" lives in water; molts several times; most species surface to breathe air.

Pupa - (plural: pupae) "tumbler" does not feed; stage just before emerging as adult.

Adult - flies short time after emerging and after its body parts..

Adult male mosquitoes have a shorter lifespan, they only live up to 10 days. When it comes to dealing with mosquitoes, knowledge is power and knowing about their general lifespan and the different stages of their life cycle can give you an advantage against them

Life Stages of Aedes Mosquitoes

Eggs

• Adult, female mosquitoes lay their eggs on the inner, wet

walls of containers with water, above the waterline.

• Mosquitoes generally lay 100 eggs at a time.

• Eggs are very hardy; they stick to the walls of a container

like glue and can survive drying out for up to 8 months—

even over the winter in the southern United States.

• It only takes a very small amount of water to attract a

female mosquito. Bowls, cups, fountains, tires, barrels,

vases and any other container storing water makes for a

great “nursery.”

Larva

• Larvae emerge from mosquito eggs, but only after the

water level rises to cover the eggs. This means that

rainwater or humans adding water to containers with eggs

will trigger the larvae to emerge.

• Larvae feed on microorganisms in the water. After molting

three times, the larva becomes a pupa.

Pupa

• Pupae will develop until the body of the newly formed

adult flying mosquito emerges from the pupal skin and

leaves the water.

Adult

• After adult mosquitoes emerge: male mosquitoes feed

on nectar from flowers and female mosquitoes feed on

humans and animals for blood to produce eggs.

• After feeding, female mosquitoes will look for water

sources to lay more eggs.

• Aedes aegypti only flies a few blocks during its life.

• Unlike other mosquito species, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

prefer to bite people.

• Aedes aegypti mosquitoes prefer to live near people. They

can be found inside homes, buildings, and businesses

where window and door screens are not used or doors are

left propped open