Mosquitoes belong to the family Culicidae within the order Diptera, which also includes all true flies. They are characterized by their slender bodies, long legs, and scaled wings. Only female mosquitoes feed on blood, using specialized mouthparts to pierce skin and transmit diseases.
- Family: Culicidae (Mosquitoes)
- Order: Diptera (Flies)
- Adults: Slender, long-legged, scaled wings
- Females: Blood-feeding, disease vectors
- Males: Feed on nectar, do not bite
Mosquitoes are members of the family *Culicidae*.
Only female mosquitoes use blood meals for egg development; males feed on nectar.
Life Cycle of Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes have a complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Mosquitoes lay eggs in or near standing water.
The mosquito life cycle includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Females lay eggs in water or moist environments. Larvae and pupae are aquatic, while adults are terrestrial and airborne. This complete metamorphosis (holometabolism) differentiates them from insects with incomplete metamorphosis.
- Egg: Laid on or near water surfaces
- Larva: Aquatic, "wigglers," filter-feed
- Pupa: Aquatic, non-feeding, "tumblers"
- Adult: Emerges from pupa, capable of flight and reproduction
Mosquito larvae and pupae are aquatic.
Notable Mosquito Genera
Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex are important mosquito genera.
Mosquitoes transmit malaria, dengue, Zika, and West Nile virus among others.
- Anopheles: Malaria vectors; larvae have distinctive resting position.
- Aedes: Daytime biters; vectors for dengue, Zika, chikungunya.
- Culex: Active at night; vectors for West Nile virus, filariasis.
The genus Anopheles includes the primary malaria vectors.
Mosquitoes belong to the order Diptera.
Diptera have one pair of wings, halteres for balance, and undergo complete metamorphosis.
Conclusion
Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are specialized dipterans with aquatic larvae and adult females that feed on blood, making them key disease vectors.
- Culicidae are mosquitoes, within Diptera (flies).
- They have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult.
- Major genera include Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex, each with medical significance.
Only adult female mosquitoes bite and feed on blood to obtain nutrients for egg production.
Mosquito larvae and pupae are aquatic stages.
Anopheles transmits malaria, Aedes transmits dengue and Zika, and Culex transmits West Nile virus.