Mosquito life cycle
Home & Garden Tips
By Roosevelt McWilliams County Extension Agent

From dawn to dusk you may be attacked by mosquitoes. Different types fly at different times,

making control difficult. There are over 150 types of mosquitoes in the United States with about 50 here

in Georgia.

Most mosquitoes generally feed on other animals but they'll bite you given the chance. They're not fussy!

In most parts of the United States, mosquitoes breed during spring, summer, and fall. In warm, southern parts, they may breed throughout the year during warm wet spells.

Water is necessary for breeding. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs on water or in places that later become flooded. The male and female mosquitoes feed on nectar for energy and flight. Most don't fly far from the breeding site, however the wind may blow them further. Most likely the breeding site is close by, even in your own yard.

The female mosquito is the only one that bites and she needs blood to make eggs. If she doesn't get a full meal in one bite she'll be back for more. The female will feed multiple times to lay a number of batches of eggs.

Why am I bitten more than others? The body chemicals of some people are more attractive than others. This is still being researched. The CO2 in our breath acts as an attractant. Exercise creates sweat and increase in CO2. Darker colored clothes and some fragrances also act as attractants. Wear light colored clothes and go easy on perfumes/colognes.

Why does the bite itch? When the female bites she injects some saliva into the skin. This helps keep the blood flowing and not block her needle-like mouth. It's your body's reaction to the saliva that creates the itch. Everybody reacts differently.

What is the life cycle of the mosquito? The female mosquitoes lay their eggs on top of standing or stagnant water or in places that later contain water. The eggs hatch into wrigglers (larvae) that live in the water and feed on organic matter in the water and come to the surface to breathe. They develop into tumblers (pupae). The adult emerges from the pupa late. The total time to develop is about a week.

Some diseases can be spread by mosquitoes. Heartworm in dogs is one example. Malaria, though no longer present in the area, is spread by mosquitoes. That's a reason for checking with your doctor before and after traveling to countries where it is still a problem. Some other diseases that can be spread by mosquitoes include viral encephalitis (Eastern Equine Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis) and Dengue (breakbone fever).