Anopheles Mosquito
Facts
- Light brown mosquitoes, with pale and dark scales on their legs, proboscis and wings.
- Typical breeding habitats include sunlit brackish pools with algae.
- They bite during the night and are vectors of malaria.
Life Cycle of Mosquitoes
- Length of the life cycle varies between species and is dependent upon environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture.
- Male mosquitoes feed on plant nectar alone, while females extract the blood of hosts in order to develop and nourish eggs.
- Most mosquitoes lay their eggs directly into water. Others lay their eggs near bodies of water but not within them.
- Eggs will hatch into larvae within 24 to 48 hours. Within 7 to 10 days, larvae enter the pupal stage.
- Females are capable of flying for miles if necessary and can lay over 100 eggs at a time.
- Males have feathery antennae they use to locate females. After mating, females typically seek a blood meal to aid in egg production.