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The Life Cycle Of A Mosquito

December 15th, 2009 Posted in Mosquitoes & Repellent

You scratch your arm and discover you have an irritated bump on it. Most likely you just got bit by a mosquito, which is the source of your discomfort.

The life cycle of a mosquito isn’t too complicated, but understanding it makes you one step closer to ridding yourself of these little bites that occasionally appear on your body.

This article will discuss the different stages of the mosquito:

• The Egg
• The Larvae
• The Pupa
• The Adult

The Egg

Many different species of mosquitoes lay their eggs in or around stagnant water. This is the very first step in the life cycle of a mosquito. The female mosquito lays her eggs over night, while sticking them together into one large raft like structure.

This egg raft holds all the 100 to 300 eggs together in one big clump floating through the water. The egg raft tends to be about 1/4 of an inch to 1/8 of an inch. During the life span of an adult female mosquito, she may lay 3 different egg rafts.

The Larvae

Mosquito larvae hatch from their eggs and remain underwater. They use little tubes, called siphons, to breathe underwater. Some species of mosquito larvae don’t have these siphons, but instead cling to underwater plants for oxygen.

Mosquito larvae consume other microorganisms and organic matter when they live underwater. If they feel any waves in the water, they quickly retract underwater because they are extremely sensitive. During this stage of growth the larvae molts 4 different times, until its ready to emerge as a pupa.

The Pupa

Commonly known as tumblers, the pupa live in water for approximately 1 to 4 days. The pupa floats on water and it takes oxygen from the water and the air. The pupa does not eat during this stage of the life cycle.

The pupa’s case eventually splits and then emerges from the surface of the water. The emerging mosquito rests on the surface of the water, until it finally dries and hardens.

The Adult

Once fully matured, the mosquito emerges to feed. Only the female mosquito can feed on blood, while the male mosquito just feeds on nectar. The adult females search for mammals to feed on, but mostly feed on humans.

They crave blood in order to reproduce and continue their entire life cycle over again. The mosquito is hard to manage, but it can be done effectively with EcoSMART’s Organic Flying Insect Killer. Made to only target the receptors found in insects, EcoSMART’s products are completely safe for the environment and your family.