The word Mosquito (little fly) dates back to about 1572...
Any discussion of mosquito biology has to begin with their life cycle. Understanding where mosquitoes come from is our first step in trying to control them. All mosquitoes begin their life in the water. So, it's important to remember that the adult mosquito buzzing in your ear has come from a nearby water source. After that female mosquito feeds on your blood, she finds an appropriate location to rest and then lays several hundred eggs - usually about 300. We know it's a female mosquito biting, because only female mosquitoes feed on blood. She uses the nutrients and proteins from the bloodmeal to create the eggs. Because males don't lay eggs, they don't need to feed on blood. Males (and females), however, will feed on plant juices and nectar to sustain the needed sugars and nutrients to keep themselves alive. For that reason, mosquitoes can be considered pollinators because you'll often see them resting in flower beds and other tall grassy areas.
The eggs are laid on or very near water. There are over 3,500 mosquito species worldwide and usually about 30-35 in any given town or area. Many of these species will seek out a specific type of habitat to lay their eggs. Some, such as Culex mosquitoes prefer standing water and must lay their eggs directly on the water's surface. These mosquitoes are called permanent water mosquitoes. Other mosquitoes, such as Aedes mosquitoes, will lay their eggs in the moist soil next to a water body. These types of mosquitoes are often called floodwater mosquitoes. Eggs that are laid directly on the water's surface will usually hatch fairly quickly - within a day or two. However, eggs that are laid on the damp soil need to dry completely before they will hatch and can go many weeks or even years before they hatch.
Eventually, however, all eggs will hatch and become larvae. Larval mosquitoes go through 4 developmental stages, called instars, as they grow. They are filter feeders and will feed on things like decaying plant matter in the water. They actually breathe air through a siphon, so they must continually rise to the surface of the water to get the much needed oxygen. For this reason, you can often see them wriggling up and down and all about in a puddle of water. Because of this motion, some people will refer to mosquito larvae as "wrigglers". During the warm summer months, larvae will go through each instar in about a day. In cooler weather, it can take weeks or even months for the larvae to fully develop.
Eventually, the larvae will develop into the pupal stage. Mosquito pupae are analogous to a butterfly's cocoon. Pupae are non-feeding; however, they still come to the surface to take in oxygen. So, they're still very active and can be seen tumbling about in the water when they sense danger or a disturbance. Because of this motion some people will refer to mosquito pupae as "tumblers". Inside the pupal case, the adult mosquito is forming and after a day or two, the adult mosquito will emerge. Initially resting on the surface of the water, the adult will quickly fly to a nearby resting place to allow their exoskeleton to harden before flying off to find a blood meal and start the whole process again.
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