Mosquito Larva

Mosquito Pupa

Mosquito Larva and Pupa

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Diptera

Family: Culicidae

Most people recognize the adult mosquitoes flying through the air but before they’re adults, they live underwater as larvae. The larvae usually hang with their heads pointing down and filter food from the water using brushes in their mouth. If you disturb them, they’ll wiggle away from you to escape, earning them the nickname “wigglers”. Before you dismiss these creatures or swear off mosquitoes, know that both the larvae and adults play an incredibly important role in our ecosystems as a major food source for many birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians, and other insects! 

As pupae (the same stage as a coccoon or chyrsalis for moths and butterflies), mosquitoes do not eat. This life stage lasts for 1 to 4 days. During this life stage, the mosquito is metamorphosing into an adult within the pupal case. When the adult mosquito is ready to emerge, it will split the pupal case, emerge and then rest on the surface of the water while its body dries.