Jamestown Vector Control Department

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More About Mosquitoes

    Adult mosquitoes are small, fragile insects with slender bodies, one pair of narrow wings, and three pairs of long, slender legs.  They are brown to black with some species having distinct markings on the thorax, abdomen, or legs.   Depending on the species, they vary in length from 3/16 to 1/2 inch.  Adult mosquitos have an elongated probiscis with piercing mouthparts.  The female mosquito uses these mouthparts to penetrate the skin of animals and feed on blood.  Male mosquitoes feed only on plant nectar.  Mosquitoes often are confused with other insects such as midges and crane flies, but can be distinguished by their elongated probiscis and scales on the veins of their wings. 

    There are four stages in the life cycle of a mosquito: egg, larva, and pupae must have standing water to complete their development.  The type of standing water, however, varies with the species of mosquito.  Some species prefer to develop in permanent water sources such as marshes, waste lagoons, catch basins, ponds, and the shallow margins of lakes and reservoirs.  Other species prefer the water that collects in tree holes, tires, cans, or other artificial containers.  Still others develop; in temporary pools of rainwater. 

    Following a blood meal, female mosquitoes lay their eggs on the water surface or in places where water is likely to accumulate.  These eggs may be laid singly or in batches or 50 to 400.  Mosquito eggs are elongated, about 1/40 inch in length, and are dark brown or black when ready to hatch.  The eggs of most mosquitoes hatch in 2 to 3 days, whereas others require a drying period.  They may remain dormant for many months and hatch minutes after being flooded by rain. 

    Mosquito larvae, or "wrigglers," hatch from the eggs and feed on bits of organic matter in the water.  Larvae also spend considerable time on the water surface where they take in oxygen through a specialized breathing tube.   There are four larval growth stages calld instars.  The larvae look similar in all the instars, except for their size.  Larval development can be completed in as little as 7 to 10 days during the summer, after which the larvae molt into pupae.

    Mosquito pupae are comma shaped and cannot feed.  They are often referred to as "tumblers" because of their characteristic tumbling motion when disturbed.  In summer, adult mosquitoes emerge from the pupae in 2 to 3 days.  

    Usually the males emerge first and linger near the breeding sites, where they wait for the  females.  Mating must occur quickly because the adult mortality rate is high.  In fact, in some species about 1/3 of the adult population may die daily; so the females compensate by producing large numbers of eggs.

    Male mosquitoes usually live a mere 6 or 7 days.  But with ample food, females of some species can live for up to five months.  A female may survive only about two weeks during its most active summer period. 

    To nourish her developing eggs, the female mosquito needs blood.   So she searches for a blood meal from an animal.  The female locates her victims by the chemicals they emit.  She is sensitive to several, including carbon dioxide, amino acids, and sex hormones.  Convection currents around warm, perspiring humans are particularly attractive to mosquitoes.  While their range is usually within 5 or 10 miles, female mosquitoes can move as far as 40 miles before obtaining a blood source.    After each blood meal, the female mosquito lays her eggs and the life cycle is renewed. 

    The time required to complete the adult mosquito life cycle from egg to adult may be as short as 10 days or as long as 7 months, depending on environmental conditions.  Some mosquitoes have only one generation a year, whereas other species may produce 4 or more generations each year. 

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