Developmental Cycle

The biology including aspects of reproduction, feeding, dispersal and other activities is influencing the importance of mosquitoes as pest and the epidemiology of numerous mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes undergo complete metamorphosis, passing through four distinct stages during their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult/imago.

A complete cycle from egg to egg (whole developmental cycle) can be as fast as about 14 days or as long as several months in diapausing species. Larval diapausing as well as hibernation or aestivation in females has been reported in some mosquito species.