Mosquitoes, those small insects that make us itchy, could also lay us open to malaria, dengue and chikungunya. They live in damp areas and reproduce 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 types of mosquitoes, namely Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, and Culiseta, each have their own distinctive environmental requirements and this helps us to identify a particular species also.
It is a good idea to remember that all mosquitoes have four distinctive phases, 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 fashion 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 swim frequently to the surface of the water to take in oxygen with the aid of siphon tunes.
However, species like the Anopheles have no such body parts 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 metamorphose 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.
When the adult mosquito is formed, it waits on the surface of the water for its skin to dry and harden. After a while, the mosquito is able to spread its wings and fly. It is interesting to note that adult female mosquitoes are more aggressive than the males that feed just on the nectar of flowers.
Aedes female mosquitoes are known for their painful and enduring bites particularly during the daytime and they attack mostly humans. The Culex specie looks like the Aedes, However they are known to bite after dusk and have a preference for domestic and wild birds. They spread encephalitis and sleeping sickness.
The Culiseta mosquito is a somewhat aggressive biter that strikes during evening hours and in shade. Anopheles mosquitoes are known for passing on malaria in humans.
Lastly, it is a good idea to realise that most female mosquitoes need to feed on an animal before they can develop eggs, with some dying before laying viable eggs.
In addition,some species live near their breeding place while others fly as far as 100 miles from their breeding spot. Male mosquitoes live a shorter life than female mosquitoes.
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 types of mosquitoes, namely Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, and Culiseta, each have their own distinctive environmental requirements and this helps us to identify a particular species also.
It is a good idea to remember that all mosquitoes have four distinctive phases, 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 fashion 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 swim frequently to the surface of the water to take in oxygen with the aid of siphon tunes.
However, species like the Anopheles have no such body parts 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 metamorphose 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.
When the adult mosquito is formed, it waits on the surface of the water for its skin to dry and harden. After a while, the mosquito is able to spread its wings and fly. It is interesting to note that adult female mosquitoes are more aggressive than the males that feed just on the nectar of flowers.
Aedes female mosquitoes are known for their painful and enduring bites particularly during the daytime and they attack mostly humans. The Culex specie looks like the Aedes, However they are known to bite after dusk and have a preference for domestic and wild birds. They spread encephalitis and sleeping sickness.
The Culiseta mosquito is a somewhat aggressive biter that strikes during evening hours and in shade. Anopheles mosquitoes are known for passing on malaria in humans.
Lastly, it is a good idea to realise that most female mosquitoes need to feed on an animal before they can develop eggs, with some dying before laying viable eggs.
In addition,some species live near their breeding place while others fly as far as 100 miles from their breeding spot. Male mosquitoes live a shorter life than female mosquitoes.
About the Author:
Owen Jones publishes pieces on several topics, but is currently involved with Hand Held Insect Killer devices and stationary units at Electronic Insect Killers.
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