Mosquito larva: description and photo, development and habitat, in water and puddles

The larva is one of the first phases of mosquito development. Fishermen call them bloodworms. They are often kept as fish food. Another name for this phase of the cycle is the squeak mosquito. Outwardly, they look like worms, and are distributed mainly at the bottom of containers and reservoirs. The bloodworm is slightly different from the traditional concept of a larva, although it is included in this list: it has a bright red color because its blood contains a large amount of hemoglobin.

Mosquito larva under a microscope

Description and classification of larvae

A mosquito larva is a bloodworm. Typically, the coloring of these insects may depend on the type/species of the insect. The following representatives of this species can be distinguished:

What to do in such a situation? To get started, we recommend reading this article. This article describes in detail methods of controlling parasites. We also recommend that you consult a specialist. Read the article >>>

• Squeak mosquito - its larvae are brown or black;
• Malaria mosquitoes are green;
• Bell bell larvae have a red color palette.

When emerging from eggs, their size is only 2 mm, but then individuals grow up to 1 cm. Two eyes can be seen on the body, as well as a special tube with which new organisms are able to breathe. They move through the water with the help of special hairs located along the body. Breathing occurs with the help of raised tails - they capture oxygen from the atmosphere and then set off on their further journey.

How to distinguish fruit flies from other midges?

People often do not know how to distinguish fruit midges from sewer midges, biting forest midges, “fungus gnats” and other insects. Some even believe that these are all the same creatures. In fact, there is a difference. It lies in the degree of danger of insects, their habitats, the rate of reproduction, as well as the “favorite dishes” of these creatures:

1. If flies are coming out of your kitchen or bathroom sink, they are sewer flies (flies). They appear “fluffy” due to the dark hairs with which their bodies and wings are densely covered. For details on getting rid of these flies, read the material “How to destroy sewer flies: 6 best remedies.”
2. If you notice that small flies are swarming in your indoor flowers, and the plants themselves have begun to wither, fungus gnats are to blame! They need to be destroyed as soon as possible - find out why and how to do it correctly in our instructions “How to get rid of fungus gnats in 5 steps”.
3. If some insects fly out of your wardrobe or kitchen cabinets, unfortunately, these are clothes moths or food moths. These pests can cause much more damage than a spoiled mood. We have already encountered this problem and have discussed in detail the best methods and means of getting rid of moths.
4. Some annoying midges try to get into your eyes or have already bitten you at home - and was it painful? If these are not mosquitoes, and there is a body of water near your house, then these are probably isolated midges that flew into your house from the street, and there is nothing to be afraid of. But if they continue to attack your home, then it’s time for an intensified fight - choose the best means in our review “How to get rid of midges: the best traps, sprays and other means”
5. If flies have settled and reproduced on spoiled fruits and vegetables, or fly over fermented alcohol or sweets, then these are precisely fruit flies - fruit flies, also otherwise called fruit flies. We will tell you in detail about getting rid of them in this material.

The fruit midge is one of the most harmless creatures on this list. It is classified as an insect that is not dangerous to humans. It's just that she multiplies too quickly. And also, it gradually spoils fruit plants and homemade food supplies... So we still won’t be “friends” with her. We will fight and for this we will get to know the “fruit tree” better.

So, by “fruit flies” we mean dozens of species of insects that have similar qualities. This is a small midge, the size of an individual is from 1 to 3 mm. It can be recognized by its oval, bulbous body and slow, “drunk” flight. There are many species of fruit flies, ranging in size from one to two millimeters. The color of their “carcasses” can be different: most often they are dark yellow and brown shades. Black and orange midges are a little less common. They have 2 symmetrical neat wings and 6-8 legs.

Drosophila fruit flies lay their larvae only on the feeding surface. Most often these are sweet foods such as fruits, vegetables, and aromatic cheeses. Most of all they “value” the fruits of citrus plants. Scientists have recently found out that their eggs there are not touched by the main fly destroyers - wasps. The larvae “travel” through the “delicious house” and turn into adults in 10 days. Before this, they are practically invisible to humans: eggs and larvae quickly disguise themselves as the color of the fruit. And only at the very beginning, whitish “seeds” 0.5 millimeters in size can be seen with the naked eye. By the way, due to inconspicuousness, people more often bring spoiled nursery fruits to their apartment directly from the store. And only then do fruit flies appear in their home. They appear and begin to annoy you.

The structure and appearance of mosquito larvae

If we consider the appearance of the larvae, then at first glance we can describe them as small worms, which in size do not exceed 1 cm. However, by certain features we can accurately determine that this is a mosquito larva:

Appearance of the larva

• Wider thoracic region, when compared with the articulated abdomen;
• 2 black eyes on the head;
• The corresponding color of their variety;
• The long process, which is located obliquely in relation to the abdomen, is a breathing tube through which the larva receives the oxygen it needs into the body.

Movement is carried out with the help of special swimming hairs: you can clearly see this process if you approach a body of water and then sharply move your hand over the surface of the water. The larvae will immediately scatter in different directions and will strive to go deeper.

Nutrition and lifespan of mosquito larvae

As a larva, a mosquito can live for 3-4 weeks: the ambient temperature plays a major role here, as well as other external factors. During this period, the larva molts several times, gets rid of the exoskeleton and becomes several times larger. For normal development of the larvae, a temperature of 10-25 degrees is sufficient, and the ideal indicator is 25-30 degrees.

As food, they use nutrients from microorganisms and small living creatures that live in bodies of water. This can be plant organic matter or unicellular algae. With the help of a water filtration mechanism, an individual can pass through itself about 1 liter per day. After this, the mosquito begins to turn into a pupa - this is a more complex creature that precedes the appearance of a full-fledged individual.

Feeding aquarium fish

Photos can be enlarged for sale

Bloodworms have always been considered the best live food for adult fish. When purchasing this food, you must carefully inspect it. It should be red, but not scarlet. Bright red bloodworms usually do not last long. It should be elastic, move when touched and lie separately, curl into a ring.

You cannot feed dead bloodworms to fish, as they can easily be poisoned. Freshly caught fish are also not suitable for feeding fish. It is necessary to withstand it for 2-4 days to cleanse the intestines, which may contain pathogenic flora of local reservoirs. During this period, the water in which the larvae are located must be changed periodically.

Store it in a cool place at a temperature of 4-8°C, for example in the refrigerator. If you have a large amount of bloodworms that cannot be kept alive for long, you can freeze them. The best way to do this is to spread it in a thin layer on plastic film, to which it does not stick. When it freezes, break the resulting pancake into pieces, put it in a plastic box and put it in the freezer.

It is recommended to feed adult aquarium fish with bloodworms using a floating feeder with holes in the bottom, through which live bloodworms gradually crawl into the water. This does not give him the opportunity to bury himself immediately in the ground. But my fish caught buried bloodworms and even pupae that emerged before the mosquitoes appeared. I did not like the recommendations to feed small aquarium fish and grown juveniles with bloodworms cut with scissors on glass. Everything flows out of the bloodworm, only skins remain, which, in my opinion, are of no value. But this method works with the tubifex.

Return to section: “feeding fish”

Other feeds:

mothcoretradaphnia tubifexcyclopartemiaciliatesenchytraeusnematodesrotifers

Respiratory system of mosquito larvae

As mentioned above, for breathing the larvae use a breathing tube, which is located on their body in the form of a long process. The breathing process is different from most living creatures: the larva must swim to the edge of the reservoir and bring it to the surface - thus, oxygen enters the body. This system is characteristic of common mosquitoes.

There are also some species of mosquitoes that breathe using dissolved oxygen. They absorb it using the entire surface of their body. Since they do not need to surface to do this, they most often live in deep areas of water bodies. For those individuals that live at the bottom of the reservoir, special gill threads are provided, which provide them with a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Discovery history [edit | edit code]

People have always known about mosquitoes, but this species was first scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Later in 1775, Forscal described the same species in Egypt under the name Culex molestus

. They both bear close physical resemblance to each other, and scientists later agreed to distinguish these mosquitoes by their willingness to bite people. Culex molestus was more abundant in Alexandria, Rashid and Cairo. Fitzalby

Ficalbi) in 1890 proposed to call the squeaking mosquitoes that bite people “haematophagus”, and those that do not bite people, but feed only on nectar, to be called “phytophages”. Thus, in relation to Culex molestus, partial attention was paid to the degree of biting people; later their behavior was designated by the term “anthropophiles”

The mosquito belongs to the order Diptera, but it has a second pair of wings, which is reduced. Both pairs of wings flap simultaneously in flight at a speed of about 1000 beats per second, which creates a characteristic “mosquito squeak”.

Developmental process of mosquito larvae

The development of the insect begins from the moment the female lays the first batch of eggs. The most optimal place for it is ponds, puddles and other places with high levels of humidity - which is why mosquito larvae first live in water, where they feed on various plants and microorganisms that live on the surface. At first, the larva can be no more than 1 mm in length.

The structure of the larva is very different from that of the adult. At the first stage, the larvae are quite active, so signs of their presence can be seen on the surface of the reservoir and swamps. With the help of a breathing tube they are sucked to the surface. With the help of the peculiarities of their structure, the larvae manage to safely survive the first stage of their development.

Reproduction

During the mating period, female mosquitoes attract the attention of males with a characteristic subtle sound, reminiscent of a squeak, which is created with the help of their wings. Mosquitoes detect sound vibrations with their sensitive antennae. Females squeak a little thinner than males, young ones - not as much as old ones. And male mosquitoes hear this and make a choice in favor of adult females. Mosquitoes form a swarm, where males and females mate.

A female mosquito lays 30-150 and sometimes even 280 eggs (in malaria mosquitoes) every two to three days. The egg develops into an adult mosquito within a week. Mosquitoes require blood to reproduce eggs, so the egg laying cycle is directly related to blood consumption. Only some urban subspecies can lay eggs without drinking blood, but they lay very few eggs.

Eggs are laid in stagnant or low-flowing reservoirs on the surface of the water (genus Anopheles and Culex), on moist soil at the edge of water in reservoirs that dry out in summer and are flooded in spring, or stick to floating objects washed by water (in Culex). The eggs on the water surface are connected in the form of a raft. The larva leaves the egg from the lower end.

Life cycle of a larva

At this stage, an individual can survive for several weeks - it all depends on specific environmental factors (temperature, what is contained in the water, food, etc.) If the larva is in warm living conditions, then it develops much faster - it increases in size size and reaches 8-10 mm. If mosquitoes were born in winter, then the process slows down several times.

During development, the larva begins to increase in size - the volume of its body becomes 500 times larger (however, its wings and limbs have not formed). In order for the creature to grow at such a rapid pace, nature endowed them with the ability to get rid of the exoskeleton. To reach the optimal size, the larva has to molt about 4 times during the entire cycle - with the passage of each stage it becomes a more complex organism.

Feeding mode of mosquito larvae

In order for the larva to actively develop, it needs a suitable ambient temperature. It should vary between 10-35 degrees: it is better if it is between 25-30 degrees. While the development process is underway, the weight and length of the larva begins to actively increase.

As a source of nutrition, the creature uses microorganisms that are present in the reservoir at that moment. Usually these are simple algae, as well as decaying organic matter. To provide itself with the necessary nutrients, the larva uses a filtration process - about 1 liter of water passes through it within one day. It then enters the pupal stage to form an adult organism.

Habitat of larvae

All types of mosquitoes in this regard are similar in one thing - they choose the place for laying eggs with special care. It is very important that the development cycle took place in the most favorable conditions for the individuals. That is why several factors are considered here when searching for such a place: illumination of the area, availability of freely available nutrients, suitable water temperature.

To give birth to a new generation, the female chooses small standing ponds. For the transition to the next pupal stage, as well as the development of individuals, constant access to nutrients is necessary, which in the first stages can be found in water. At the same time, females rarely pay attention to large bodies of water - here there is a high probability of encountering a predator. Also, if the water is too dirty, the larvae will quickly die.

Breast

If we talk about the general appearance, then this part looks quite massive, but after studying it in more detail, you can understand that this is not entirely true. It includes 3 segments that are unevenly developed.

The strongest and most developed middle part, it contains all the flying muscles, and the wings are also attached. In addition to being responsible for flight, the middle part provides respiratory functions.

The front part includes the insect's fairly long neck. The rear part, the metanotum, has another spiracle and is also responsible for the insect’s respiration, but unlike the middle segment, it is rather poorly developed.

Each segment has a pair of legs. The paws, in turn, also consist of segments, of which there are 5 on each limb. On the last segment there are suction cups and claws, which allow the mosquito to stay on absolutely any surface and ideally stay on the ceiling.

It’s interesting, but now mosquitoes have a slightly different body structure; previously they had 4 wings, but now there are only 2 left. However, now they still have rudiments of the halteres from the second pair of wings, which produce this incredibly annoying squeak. By the way, only females squeak, as well as bite.

The wings have an oval elongated shape and a transparent color. They consist of veins and connecting membranes; the plates are covered with very small scales. Most individuals have transparent scales, but there are also those with different color shades. If colored scales accumulate in one place, a colored spot is formed.

In species of mosquitoes that have black and green colored bodies, colored scales accumulate in such a way that a pattern is formed. It’s hard to believe that these small insects wave with a vibration frequency of up to 1000 times per second. Some scientists argue that the wings also contain nerve endings, but in this case they act as sensory organs.

Where and how do larvae develop?

As noted earlier, the larva can exist in this phase for several weeks. This stage determines the further development of the insect, since at this stage the foundation is laid for organs and body parts, which later play an important role in the development of a full-fledged individual. Several factors influence further development and speed of formation:

• Temperature conditions;
• Water and its quality (composition);
• Sufficient amount of nutrients in the reservoir;
• Illumination of the habitat.

Reservoirs with stagnant water and optimal temperature at depth (at least 10 degrees Celsius) are best suited for development. With these factors, growth occurs much faster. At this stage, the insect can expand up to 10 times its length.

Where is the best place for larvae to live?

The best life is for the larvae that live in swampy areas, whirlpools and muddy ponds. A large number of microorganisms can be found here. Which are perfect for feeding - they reproduce at a high rate, which means that the larvae will always find something to eat here.

If the water is absolutely clean, then this can cause some difficulties for the mosquitoes living there - due to their color, they will become a visible bait for predators. Moreover, in such reservoirs there are a large number of creatures that feed on mosquitoes (water bugs, beetles and swimming beetles). Fish and birds also pose a great danger to these insects. Here mosquitoes have to look for a middle ground: in crystal clear waters they are exposed to danger, but even with heavy household pollution they simply may not survive.

Lifestyle

mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians; at the same time, males and females of all species of midges, without exception, feed on the nectar of flowering plants. However, representatives of the tribe Toxorhinchitini have predatory larvae, while their adults feed exclusively on nectar. When choosing a victim, a female mosquito is guided by carbon dioxide exhaled by a person, thermal radiation, and the smell of lactic acid contained in sweat.

A completely different picture is observed in mosquitoes of the pipiens ecotype, which under certain circumstances can become long-lived. If the females hatched from pupae in July - early August, then they all diapause and go to wintering, which lasts until March-May; After wintering ends, they reproduce and live for another 1-2 months.

Living conditions for mosquito larvae

It all depends on the specific type of mosquito: some species prefer to live in hot and warm climates (tropical forests), while others find it easiest to live within the Arctic Circle. Some species prefer reservoirs that are well warmed up by the sun's rays, while others, on the contrary, look for more shady areas. The optimal temperature for the development and reproduction of all species is 10-35 degrees. In this case, the growth of the larvae and their transition to the next state occurs faster.

Dangerous environment for larvae

A large number of larvae die - only a small part of them moves on to the next stage of pupal formation. The reasons for such rapid death may be the following:

• Low water temperature;
• Natural disasters;
• A large number of predators.

All losses of larvae are compensated by the fertility of adults, so their number on average remains stable. The most common cause of death of larvae is an attack by fish and other inhabitants of water bodies, for which they are a delicacy. The larvae have no additional means of defense in this case.

Another problem they have to face is the environmental situation in the reservoir. If there is a high concentration of petroleum products in the water, then the surface is covered with a thin film, which can block access to oxygen. The larva dies within 15 minutes because the oil also clogs the holes in the breathing tube.

Enemies

Most mosquito larvae die for various reasons:

• due to bad weather conditions: natural disasters, low temperatures;
• they are eaten by natural enemies, including the inhabitants of the reservoir: fish and amphibians, for which they are the main food;
• due to unfavorable ecology: polluted water, oil film on the surface, which prevents them from breathing.

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Types of mosquito larvae

Mosquitoes are divided into several subspecies, which are characterized by a special appearance, structure and behavior. Most often in wildlife you can find the following varieties:

• Malaria mosquitoes - they are characterized by a large head, large chest and segmented abdomen. A distinctive feature is the absence of a breathing tube. Instead, there are spiracles on the body. Their habitat is the surface of the water. They feed on small microorganisms.
• Mosquitoes - jerks. Most often, they are caught by fishermen for fishing. They are also purchased for feeding aquarium fish. In another way, they are called bloodworms, and you can buy them in any store (both fresh and frozen).
• Centipedes - they can be found in swampy areas. A distinctive feature is the tufts that are located at the base of the body.
• Pedicius - have false legs that allow them to move along the bottom of reservoirs. They can survive even in contaminated sources. Etc.

Malarial

Malaria mosquitoes can be identified by the structural features of their body. They are characterized by a large head with oral brushes for feeding, a large chest and an abdomen that consists of several parts. Special spiracles are located in the 8th segment of the body and are an excellent replacement for the breathing tube. They try to stick to the surface of the water - most often they stand parallel to it. Here they live quietly, feed, catch small insects and microorganisms, and then immediately send them into their mouths.

centipedes

Centipedes hatch from eggs that were previously laid in swampy areas. They are comfortable growing near rotten plants, roots, tree bark and silt. If you look at their appearance, they look like gray-brown worms with a large head, and on the back of their abdomen there are spiracles, which are surrounded by meat growths. The star-shaped mouthparts are located at the end of the body.

Mosquito jerk

Experts say that this type of “bloodworm” has become an intermediate stage between the jerk and the bell. They are often purchased by fishermen to use as bait. Usually the size of these larvae does not exceed 2-3 cm, and they also have a characteristic red color. They prefer to choose the bottom of reservoirs, dense thickets or silt as permanent housing. In such territory they obtain their food. However, they need to periodically float up to fill themselves with oxygen. They use vegetation that remains at the bottom of the reservoir as food.

When the larva hatches, it is characterized by a gray color, but after the first molt it changes sharply - due to the hemoglobin content in the blood, it becomes bright red. Mosquitoes also have salivary glands that create a tube-shaped house to glue together all the debris found at the bottom. This way they can make their own shelter from enemies. The larva hides in this house, emerging only in search of food.

Nipper

This species of mosquito is represented by one of the most numerous communities. Initially, representatives of this class could be seen exclusively in Africa, but the species gradually multiplied and reached the regions of Asia and America. Now representatives can be seen in the southern regions of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. The biter carries viral infections, which become the causes of dangerous diseases (Zika virus, yellow fever and many others).

The females of these mosquitoes begin to breed towards the end of autumn. The offspring survive the cold season, and when the temperature reaches five degrees Celsius, they begin to gradually hatch from the eggs. The larvae look like white-yellow worms that live in puddles. Like other species, they experience this stage upside down. Microorganisms and algae are most often consumed as food, but some of them can also prey on smaller mosquito larvae.

Pedicia

The larvae of this species have additional false legs, which help them move along the surface of the bottom of the reservoir, where there is a large amount of silt. Moreover, the number of such legs can be completely different: in Dicranota there are about 10 of them, and on each of them there is a mini-hook that holds the insect on an uneven surface. This type of mosquito can live even in the most polluted sources because they also have gill appendages on their body.

There is another variety of this class of mosquitoes, which in appearance is very different from its relatives. The mosquito resembles moss that grows at the bottom of reservoirs. Usually these larvae can be seen among dense algae: their appearance is their additional camouflage from predators.

Stinging mosquitoes

These mosquitoes can be found near forests. The main feature of this species is the presence of hair tufts at the base of the individual.

Practical significance of bloodworms

Another name for mosquito larvae is bloodworm. Since not only toads, but also fish actively feed on these small worms, they are often used by aquarists, as well as experienced fishermen. Bloodworms go on sale after careful packaging. This is because small larvae are suitable only for aquarium phenotypes, but large ones are suitable for catching river fish. How actively a barb or gudgeon will consume mosquito offspring depends on the degree of its freshness and proper preparation. Therefore, experienced fishermen purchase larvae for feeding only in specialized departments.

Nutrition of aquarium fish

Many aquarium phenotypes feed on mosquitoes and flies. The following varieties are preferred for bloodworms:

• Trout.
• The Golden Cockerel.
• Whitefish.
• Roach.
• Cichlids.
• Gury.

The amount consumed by a particular phenotype depends on its size as well as taste preferences. Some river fish feed only on mosquitoes and their larvae. Anglers take advantage of this by using fresh bloodworms for feeding. Some phenotypes catch those mosquitoes that move above the water surface. Other species use a stream of water to dislodge the insect and obtain the required amount of food. Most often, the pests are knocked down by splashers.

The use of larval-eating fish in the fight against malaria

Among those that feed on the larvae of malaria mosquitoes are the mosquito fish. These fish are found in America. They live and develop both in the central part and in the south. Although their diet may include zooplankton that is of suitable size, mosquito fish prefer bloodworms. Therefore, these phenotypes settle in water bodies that are filled with the offspring of malaria mosquitoes.

Since mosquitoes cause significant harm to people around the world, mosquito fish are artificially bred in many bodies of water. Today they are found not only in the USA, but also in Russia. Gambusia were actively bred on the Black Sea coast in the 50s. At that time, a huge number of soldiers and ordinary citizens died from malaria in the Caucasus. It took about 10 years to completely cope with the disease, as well as destroy the huge population of malaria mosquitoes.

Now scientists are actively reducing the populations of mosquito fish. This is because fish can eat not only bloodworms. If there is a lack of food familiar to them, then gambusia eat fry and young fish that are unable to defend themselves.

Benefits and harms of mosquito larvae

In general, mosquito larvae of several species do not cause significant harm to the environment. They most often perform only useful functions:

• The larvae filter large amounts of water in springs, since this process forms the basis of their nutrition;
• This is food for a large number of creatures: fish, amphibians;
• Some species of mosquito larvae are used for fishing;
• The presence of mosquito larvae in a reservoir is an indicator of its pollution: if they are present here, this indicates clean water, since in a polluted area they simply die.

If we talk about harm, then it is necessary to note the only species considered - this is the centipede larva. They feed on plant foods, which means they can cause irreparable harm to agriculture. The larvae gnaw seedlings and roots of useful crops. If we consider mosquito larvae as a whole, scientists are still studying them, since not all the features of their development and life activity have been revealed. Either way, they are useful for maintaining balance in nature.