How Does Mosquitoes Make Babies?
WouterDepending on the species, the mosquito life cycle can take as little as 10 days to as long as several months. The larvae are in the water for a week or two before entering the pupal stage. This stage is not active, and the mosquito pupae breathe through a breathing tube.
The pupal case, or cocoon, is broken by air pressure to let the adult mosquito emerge. The mosquito pupae rest on the water’s surface for one or two days before taking flight. The adult mosquito then dries out its wings. It uses carbon dioxide cues to locate a human host.
Female mosquitoes usually mate once or twice in their lifetime. After mating, they lay eggs on the water’s surface or moist soil. The number of eggs depends on the size of the female mosquito and the amount of blood that she receives. Some mosquitoes can lay up to 500 eggs.
The female mosquito stores sperm until it is ready to mate again. She also injects a small amount of an anticoagulant to keep blood flowing. Once she lays her eggs, she lays them in small groups of 25 to 100.
Mosquito larvae feed on organic material and protozoans. They also consume bacteria and bacteria-containing plants. They molt four times during their larval stage.
Adult female mosquitoes can live for up to two weeks. In this stage, they have a proboscis, antennae, and a suckable breathing tube. They are capable of flying long distances, but they prefer to stay close to the ground.
