The Lifecycle of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the pest that can ruin the entire summer. When you feel like you’re getting constantly bitten from these small and annoying insects, it can make being outdoors unbearable. What many people don’t know is where mosquitoes come from.

Having a better understanding of the life cycle of mosquitoes can help us prevent them from breeding.

The Life Cycle of Mosquitoes

No matter the species of mosquito, they all have a four-phase life cycle. First, their eggs hatch when they are exposed to water. After the egg hatches, it becomes a larva. The larva lives in the water, molting several times before the species comes to the surface to breathe in the air. The larva becomes a pupa, which is the final phase before it becomes an adult. From there, the pupa becomes an adult mosquito. After emerging from the pupa, the mosquito needs time for its body parts to harden before it can fly.

The initial three stages of mosquito development begin in the water, and as we all know, the adult mosquito becomes a flying insect. What most people don’t know is that only the female mosquitoes bite humans, feeding off of the blood of us and other animals.

After the female eats, they lay eggs on or near a body of water. They can also lay eggs in soil and at the base of plants that may have water in them. The eggs are resilient, and can even survive in dry weather for several months. From there, the cycle repeats itself.

Depending on the temperature, the eggs will hatch in water and become larvae. The length of time it takes for them to hatch is dependent upon the food available, the temperature of the water, and the breed of mosquito.

The larva feeds in the water until it is ready to become the pupa. The pupa does not feed, but stays in that form for 2-7 days, and eventually emerges from the water to become a mosquito.

Regardless of the type of mosquito, the typical life cycle of a mosquito is two weeks, but it can be as brief as four days or as long as a month, depending on the conditions.

If you have a mosquito infestation and need help eradicating them, contact our pest control experts at Worldwide Pest Control today to learn more.

#lifecycle #mosquito #mosquitoes #pestcontrol