The mosquito is one of the most well-known and frequent insects in our environment. In fact, it is one of the animals that has the most contact with humans, and it is almost impossible to find someone who has not suffered the bite of a tiger mosquito or any mosquito bite. One of those that has been talked about more lately for its expansion to other countries in what was not before is the tiger mosquito. These insects are capable of transmitting diseases such as malaria, dengue or yellow fever and their presence varies depending on the area in which we are. Mosquitoes have a life cycle that is divided into four phases of development: egg, larva, pupa and adult. If you’ve ever wondered how long a mosquito lives, in this article we answer you.
Mosquitoes
Insects form the most varied group of organisms of all ecosystems on the planet, except for the sea. Its extensive presence is due to its rapid colonization of different habitats, its ability to adapt and its short life cycle. Currently about 2 million species of insects are known and it is estimated that there are about 10 million.
Mosquitoes, also known as mosquitoes, have 2500 species in the world and are transmitters of diseases because females need the protein found in the blood to lay eggs.
What is the life cycle of a mosquito
Mosquitoes have a short lifespan that is usually between 10 and 30 days. The life expectancy of these insects depends on other factors such as humidity, feeding, sex, time of year and species. In general, females have a longer life than male mosquitoes, since their life cycle is longer when having to lay eggs.
Egg
The female mosquito lays eggs one by one or in groups of 50 to 200, whose groupings are known as ships because of their resemblance to small ships. This shape gives them the ability to float on water. Other species lay their eggs in the ground remaining dormant until the soil is flooded.
The larva
The egg hatches in 24-48 hours after the female mosquito deposits them. The larva is always aquatic and completes its evolution increasing from 1mm to 12mm, although it varies according to the species. Also, the duration of this phase varies depending on the temperature. The larvae can move when performing contractions and feed by filtering organic matter, such as algae.
The pupa
At the end of the larval stage, the mosquito begins its transformation that allows it to move from water to are, thanks to the development of its system. This stage lasts between 2 and 3 days and does not require feeding. Mosquito pupae remain on the surface of the water and can be submerged by contractions.
Adult mosquito
It is the mosquito as we know it. In its adult phase it leaves the water and has the ability to fly. Both males and females feed on the nectar of flowers, and contrary to what many people may think, they do not ingest the blood to feed. The female mosquito is the only one that ingests blood and does so to obtain a protein necessary for the maturation of eggs.
Before the hibernation period, females feed on as much nectar as possible to be able to feed during this process. During the hibernation period, the female takes refuge in protected places, while the males die.
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