The Four Stages In The Life Of The Mosquito
Mosquitoes, those small insects that make us uncomfortable, could also lay us open to malaria, dengue and chikungunya. They live in damp areas and breed in water.
The life cycle of this insect begins in holes in trees filled with water, tide water pools in salt marshes, sewage effluent ponds, irrigated pastures and rain water ponds.
The four main species of mosquitoes, namely Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, and Culiseta, each have their own unique environmental requirements and this assists us to identify a specific species too.
It is a good idea to note that all mosquitoes have four distinctive stages, namely the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages, in their life cycle. The eggs are laid in water or on damp surfaces and float on them. In addition, species like Culex and Culiseta lay eggs of 100 or more that are found stuck to each other in the form of a raft.
However, Anopheles mosquitoes lay their eggs on water and Aedes are known to lay their eggs usually on damp ground. The eggs take two days to hatch and metamorphose into the larval stage.
The mosquito larvae, known popularly as wrigglers or wigglers, live in water for a period of a week or two depending on the temperature of the water. The larvae come regularly to the surface of the water to take in oxygen with the aid of siphon tunes.
However, species like the Anopheles have no such mechanism and generally breathe by lying flat on the water. It is interesting to note that mosquito larvae shed their skin four times and after the fourth stage they turn into pupae.
Mosquito pupae, popularly known as "tumblers", live in water for from one to four days depending mostly on the species and temperature. In this stage, known as the resting or non-eating stage in the life cycle, the insect can be observed lying on the surface of water.
In this phase it breathes through its two breathing tubes called trumpets. This is the important and last stage before the mosquito changes into an adult and begins spreading infection. Once the stage is over, the pupa opens and the adult emerges.
Once the adult mosquito is formed, it sits on the surface of the water waiting for its body to dry out and harden. After a time, the mosquito is able to spread its wings and fly. It is interesting to remember that adult female mosquitoes are more aggressive than the males that feed only on the nectar of flowers.
Aedes female mosquitoes are known for their sore and persistent bites especially during the daytime and they attack mostly humans. The Culex specie resembles Aedes, However they are known to strike after dusk and have a preference for domestic and wild birds. They transmit encephalitis or sleeping sickness.
Culiseta mosquitoes are somewhat aggressive biters that attack during evening hours and in shade. Anopheles mosquitoes are known for spreading malaria in humans.
Ultimately, it is a good idea to know that most female mosquitoes have to feed on an animal before they can produce eggs, with some dying before laying viable eggs.
Furthermore,some species live near their breeding place while others fly as far as 100 miles from their breeding spot. Male mosquitoes have a shorter life span than female mosquitoes.
Owen Jones publishes articles on various topics, but is now involved with Hand Held Insect Killer devices and static units at Electronic Insect Killers.
