The mosquito larval stage is the second stage in the mosquito life cycle. This mosquito life cycle has 4 instars (developmental stages). They emerge from the eggs as very small first instar larvae. As time goes by, they feed and grow till their skin (cuticle) is too small to obtain them. They emerge larger as a second instar, and going on doing so until the forth mosquito larval instar. After the larval life cycle stage the mosquito larvae pupates.
Under optimal condition each mosquito larval stage may last about one day. However, in the wild the conditions are rarely optimal. The amount of available food and the water temperature are of the leading factors that determine the time between the instars and thus the entire mosquito larval stage duration.
Some mosquito larvae can be found in water with high organic matter density (e.g. Culex pepiens) while other species do better in water with low organic matter density (e.g. Aedes albopictus, Anopheles sacharovi). They also spread from small water bodies (e.g. Aedes triseriatus, Aedes aegypti) to very large water bodies (e.g. Anopheles sacharovi).
Numerous factors, such as water temperature, shade, vegetation, acidity, other organism in the water – were associated with the presence of mosquito larvae in many studies throughout the years. As expected, different species prefer different levels of the measured factors. The only common factor to all mosquito larvae of the different species was the water being standing or slow running.
Under optimal condition each mosquito larval stage may last about one day. However, in the wild the conditions are rarely optimal. The amount of available food and the water temperature are of the leading factors that determine the time between the instars and thus the entire mosquito larval stage duration.
Mosquito Larvae - Habitat characteristics
The mosquito larvae have long and narrow body, which fit for life in the water. In fact, they can be found only in standing or very slow running water. Mosquito larvae are definitely not terrestrial. Though usually associated with fresh water, the larvae of different mosquito species can be found in all type of (standing) water. Mosquito larvae are found in water salinity from very low salinity (e.g. Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito) to salinity level that may be as twice as sea water (e.g. Aedes mariae and Aedes caspius).Some mosquito larvae can be found in water with high organic matter density (e.g. Culex pepiens) while other species do better in water with low organic matter density (e.g. Aedes albopictus, Anopheles sacharovi). They also spread from small water bodies (e.g. Aedes triseriatus, Aedes aegypti) to very large water bodies (e.g. Anopheles sacharovi).
Numerous factors, such as water temperature, shade, vegetation, acidity, other organism in the water – were associated with the presence of mosquito larvae in many studies throughout the years. As expected, different species prefer different levels of the measured factors. The only common factor to all mosquito larvae of the different species was the water being standing or slow running.
Nutrition
Some mosquito larvae filter micro-organisms and other organic matter from the water column. Many of the Culex and Anopheles species are like that. Other mosquito larvae species scrape algae on pond edges, like Culiseta longiareolata or Aedes caspius. Fewer mosquito larvae species are predators, like the different Toxorhynchites species. Of course some species are not so specialist and may use more than one feeding strategy. Culiseta longiareolata larvae were observed scraping algae, filter feeding and preying on other mosquito larvae as well…Breathing under water
Like all mosquito life cycles, the mosquito larvae breathe atmospheric oxygen and have to swim up to the surface for that. Most species have a siphon at their abdominal edge with which they cling into the water surface tension as they breathe. Species of Anopheles do not have this siphon and attach the surface with all body length. Species of Mansonia have saw-like teeth in the siphon edge. They cut and stick the siphon into water plant to still their oxygen.
Mosquito Larvae
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