What Do Young Mosquitoes Look Like?
WouterSeveral species of mosquitoes develop from egg to adult in as little as five days. The development period is strongly influenced by the ambient temperature. In colder regions, mosquitoes may delay development. In tropical regions, the development period is about 40 days.
A female mosquito’s life cycle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Each stage of development lasts about five to fourteen days.
When a female mosquito lays an egg, she places it in a small, moist place. Her eggs look white at first, but will turn to a dark brown to black color within a day. When the eggs hatch, the larvae float to the surface to breathe. They then feed on algae and other microorganisms in the water. They molt four times during development. They become a quarter-inch long when they complete their final molt.
When the larva completes its molt, it becomes a pupa. It floats back to the surface. At this stage, it is vulnerable to predators. When disturbed, the pupa tumbles back into the water. It develops into an adult mosquito in about 10 to 14 days.
An adult mosquito has a proboscis, or tube, which pierces the skin and is used for drinking and feeding. It also has piercing mouthparts. The proboscis is a stinger-like structure.
The adult mosquito’s body is slender and long. It has piercing mouthparts, a proboscis, antennae and veins on the wings. The mosquito’s body weighs between 5 mg and 6 mg.
