Download Near the Bottom of the Food Chain Mosquitoes are two

Near the Bottom of the Food Chain
Mosquitoes are two-winged flies that belong to the family Culicidae in the
order Diptera. Mosquitoes undergo a life cycle includes 4 distinct forms:
eggs , larvae , pupae, and adults.
Female mosquitoes lay eggs toward the end of the fall, and those eggs will
remain dormant until spring. Eggs will hatch into larvae within 24 to 48
hours. Larvae soon grow to become approximately 5 mm in length. Most
larvae breathe through air tubes (photo). Larger larvae can be seen floating
just above the surface of infested waters. Mosquito larvae strain the water
for algae and bacteria. The larvae develop through 4 instars before they
transform into active, non-feeding pupae. Pupae are also visible upon the
surface of the breeding site. The adult's wings, sucking mouthparts, and legs
can be seen through the transparent pupal skin. The adult emerges from the
pupal skin onto the surface of the water, and then flies to seek carbohydrates
and mates. The adults and larvae are anatomically different, reside in
different habitats (terrestrial vs. aquatic, respectively), and obtain nutrients
from entirely different sources of food.
All mosquitoes require standing water, but the type of water they prefer depends on the species. Some
prefer containers, such as tires, tree holes, buckets, and water troughs. Others prefer very stagnant
water with lots of organic material. Still others breed primarily in swamps and marshes, some fresh
water, and some salt water. Male mosquitoes feed on plant nectar alone. Female mosquitoes bite
animals, using the blood as a protein source to develop eggs. Different species vary in their preferred
time to feed, but many feed during dawn or dusk.
Dragonfly nymphs (larvae), water beetles and damselflies eat mosquito larvae
as part of their natural diets. The mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) can eat as
many as 160 larvae in eight hours. Red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripts)
are highly effective predators of mosquito larvae.