Mosquito Stock Photo

Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are approximately 3,600 species of small flies comprising the family Culicidae (from the Latin culex meaning gnat). The mosquito life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Eggs are laid on the water surface they hatch into motile larvae that feed on aquatic algae and organic material. These larvae are important food sources for many freshwater animals, such as dragonfly nymphs, many fish, and some birds such as ducks. The adult females of most species have tube-like mouthparts (called a proboscis) that can pierce the skin of a host and feed on blood, which contains protein and iron needed to produce eggs. Thousands of mosquito species feed on the blood of various hosts??—?vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish along with some invertebrates, primarily other arthropods.