Mosquitoes undergo four distinct life cycle stages: egg, larval, pupal and adult. The length of the first three stages varies by species and depends upon environmental conditions. Some mosquitoes have a life span of only four days, while others survive winter to lay eggs in spring.
Mosquitoes are members of the order Diptera, along with flies and gnats. They have one pair of wings with halteres. Their bodies are slender with long legs. Size varies with species, but most mosquitoes measure less than 15 millimeters in length and weigh approximately 2 milligrams.
Male mosquitoes do not extract blood from victims; only the female mosquito is equipped with the piercing-sucking mouthparts. A female specimen possesses a serrated proboscis, which reduces nerve stimulation in bite victims. Protein from collected blood is used to develop mosquito eggs. However, some mosquitoes do not feed upon animal hosts, instead consuming the larvae of other mosquitoes.
- ISBN13 9781304874672
- Publish Date 5 February 2014
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 25 June 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Lulu.com
- Format eBook
- Language English