Many mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of fresh or stagnant water. If they prefer open air, breeding sites they usually choose where the water is sheltered from wind by vegetation.
Eggs can be found in pastures, tree holes, and stream bottoms and hatch when flooded with water.
- Culex lay eggs in a “raft” that floats on the surface of the water.
- Anopheles lay single eggs on the water surface
- Aedes lay eggs in damp soil or on the sides of containers; the eggs begin to develop when the water level rises and floods the eggs.
Larvae hatches from the egg and lives in the water. Some mosquito eggs, however, need to be dried completely before they will hatch. Most species, such as found in Culex and Aedes genera, have a siphon or air tube and spend most of their time on the surface breathing. Larvae eat constantly- feeding on algae, plankton, fungi, bacteria and other aquatic organisms. One genera of mosquito is specifically adapted to eat other mosquito larvae! During growth, the larva molts (sheds its skin) four times. The fourth molt results in the change from larva to pupa.
Pupa – Mosquito pupae, commonly called “tumblers,” live in water from 1 to 4 days, depending upon species and temperature. The pupa is lighter than water and therefore floats at the surface. It takes oxygen through two breathing tubes called “trumpets.” The pupa does not eat, but it is not an inactive stage. When disturbed, it dives for safety in a jerking, tumbling motion and then floats back to the surface. The metamorphosis of the mosquito into an adult is completed within the pupal case. The pupal case is like a “factory” where the mosquito larva becomes an adult. The adult mosquito splits the pupal case and emerges to the surface of the water where it rests until its body dries and hardens.
Adult – Adults emerge, and fly away looking for their first meal and to mate. Adults eat nectar, like many other insects. Only female mosquitoes bite, seeking blood from humans and other animals. Blood provides pre-natal supplements needed for egg development. After her blood meal, the female lays eggs on or near the water. The eggs can survive dry conditions for a few months.
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.
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