Mosquitoes are pantamorphia insects. It means that mosquito life cycle has to pass through four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Depending on species, mosquito eggs are laid singly or as a raft on the water surface or in wet areas where they can contact with water. When the time comes, eggs hatch to larvae and they live aquatic.

Mosquito larva features

Mosquito larvae live in water but they have to come to water surface to breath. In tropical areas, after 2 – 3 days, eggs will hatch to larvae. After hatching, they have to pass through four instars. In the first molting, larvae measure about 1.5 mm in length; and in the last molting, the larvae reach 5 mm in length. Although larvae have no leg, their head develop and their bodies are covered with many hairs. They can swim because of body movement.

Larvae are separated into 3 parts: head, thorax and abdomen. Most of them move positively and regularly come to the water surface to breath. When they are in water surface, they lie at a special position. For example, larvae of Anopheles are parallel to water surface whereas others hang head down, with the tip of air tube extending to the water surface.

Larvae live in water until become pupae and change into adults. Many kinds of mosquito are adapted to all of water sources except strong flows and wavy portion of great water areas. Commonly, the choice of water for mosquito is very special. Mosquito larvae are divided in to three types:

• Those which have mouth turned quickly create water current. From this, they can clarify the food debris.
• Those which eat bacteria and algae
• Larvae of some mosquitoes which eat different larvae of other mosquitoes
• The time of each instar in larva stage depends on food sources, larvae density and water temperature. However, most of mosquito complete larva stage in a week.

Larva mosquito nutrition

Algae, bacteria and aquatic plants are larva’s food sources. In warm areas, larvae need 4 – 10 days to develop and this process can last longer if there is short of food. After that, larvae will become pupae after the fourth instar.