The mosquito is one of the best known and most frequent insects in our environment. In fact, it is one of the animals that has the greatest 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 the most talked about lately due to its expansion to other countries where it was not previously present 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 stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. If you ever wondered how long does a mosquito live, in this oneHOWTO article we answer you.
Insects form the most varied group of organisms of all the ecosystems on the planet, with the exception of 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, they have 2,500 species in the world and they are disease transmitters because females need the protein found in the blood to be able to lay eggs.
The mosquitos have a short life that is usually between 10 and 30 days. The life expectancy of these insects depends on other factors such as humidity, diet, sex, time of year and species. In general, females have a longer life than male mosquitoes, since their life cycle is longer when they have to lay their eggs.
Egg
The female mosquito lays the eggs one by one or in groups of 50 to 200, whose groups are known as navicles because of their resemblance to small ships. This shape gives them the ability to float on water. Other species lay their eggs on the ground, remaining dormant until the ground is flooded.
Larva
The egg hatches in 24-48 hours after the female mosquito lays them. The larva is always aquatic and completes its evolution increasing from 1mm to 12mm, although it varies according to the species. Likewise, the duration of this phase varies depending on the temperature. The larvae can move by contracting and feed themselves by leaching organic matter, such as algae.
The pupa
At the end of the larval phase, the mosquito begins its transformation that allows it to go from water to air, 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 themselves. The female mosquito is the only one that ingests blood and does so to obtain a protein necessary for the maturation of the eggs.
Before the hibernation period, the females feed on as much nectar as possible to be able to feed themselves during this process. During the hibernation period, the female takes refuge in sheltered places, while the males die.
And if you also want to know how long flies live, don’t miss this article.
Taking into account the life cycle of the mosquito with its four phases, an adult mosquito can live from a few days to a month approximately. The shortest period is that in which the mosquito is a larva, while the longest is its adulthood. Throughout their life cycle they need water and its longevity depends on several factors:
- Sex. The female mosquito has a longer life since its life cycle includes the laying of eggs and survives hibernation.
- Species. Although mosquitoes have an approximate life expectancy, there are many species and their longevity can vary.
- Feeding. The mosquito needs to feed on nectar or fruit, so a deficit of these can shorten the life of the mosquito.
- Time of the year. Mosquitoes frequent humid areas, so those times of the year with less humidity can affect their life expectancy.
- Humidity.
Mosquitoes are carriers of diseases, and it is possible that their presence can make us uncomfortable, especially if we have a garden where we like to enjoy having dinner or simply sunbathing. Therefore, the presence of these insects can become a nightmare. In this article we explain how to repel mosquitoes outdoors.
