How much does a mosquito live?

The mosquito is one of the most known and frequent insects in our environment. In fact, it is one of the animals that has the most contact with the human, and it is almost impossible to find someone who has not suffered his sting. One of the most talked about lately for its expansion to other countries in what was not before is the tiger mosquito. These insects are capable of transmitting diseases such as malaria, dengue or yellow fever and their presence varies depending on the area in which we are. Mosquitoes have a life cycle that is divided into four phases of development : egg, larva, pupa and adult. If you have ever wondered how much a mosquito lives, in this article of .com we answer you.

The mosquitos

Insects form the most varied group of organisms of all the ecosystems of the planet, with the exception of the sea. Its extensive presence is due to its rapid colonization of different habitats, its ability to adapt and its short life cycle . Currently about 2 million species of insects are known and it is estimated that there are about 10 million.

Mosquitoes, also known as mosquitoes, have 2500 species in the world and are transmitters of diseases because females need the protein that is in the blood to be able to lay eggs.

The life cycle of the mosquito

Mosquitoes have a short life that is usually between 10 and 30 days. The life expectancy of these insects depends on other factors such as humidity, diet, sex, time of year and species. In general, females have a longer life than males, since their life cycle is longer when they have to lay their eggs.

Egg

The female mosquito lays the eggs one by one or in groups of 50 to 200, whose groupings are known as navicles because of their similarity to small ships. This form gives them the ability to float on water. Other species deposit their eggs in the ground, remaining inactive until the soil is flooded.

The larva

The egg hatches in past 24-48 hours since the female mosquito deposits them. The larva is always aquatic and completes its evolution increasing from 1mm to 12mm, although it varies according to the species. Also, the duration of this phase varies depending on the temperature. The larvae can move when contractions are made and seal by filtering organic matter, such as algae.

The pupa

At the end of the larval phase, the mosquito begins its transformation that allows it to move from water to sand, thanks to the development of its system. This stage lasts between 2 and 3 days and does not require food. Mosquito pupae remain on the water surface and can be submerged by contractions.

Adult mosquito

It is the mosquito as we know it. In his adult phase he leaves the water and has the ability to fly. Both males and females feed on the nectar of flowers, and contrary to what many people may think, do not ingest the blood to feed. The female mosquito is the only one that ingests blood and does so to obtain a protein necessary for the maturation of the eggs.

Before the period of hibernation, the females feed on all the possible nectar to be able to feed themselves in what lasts this process. During the period of hibernation, the female takes refuge in protected places, while the males die.

How much does a mosquito live?

Taking into account the life cycle of the mosquito with its four phases, an adult mosquito can live from a few days to a month approximately. The shortest period is one in which the mosquito is a larva, while the longest is its adult age. Throughout their life cycle they need water and their longevity depends on several factors:

• Sex The female mosquito has a longer life since its life cycle includes laying eggs and survives hibernation.
• Species Although mosquitoes have an approximate life expectancy, there are many species and their longevity may vary.
• Food The mosquito needs to feed on nectar or fruit, so a deficit of these can shorten the life of the mosquito.
• Time of year . The mosquitoes frequent the humid zones, reason why those times of the year with less humidity can affect their life expectancy.
• Humidity

Mosquitoes are carriers of diseases, and it is possible that their presence can make us uncomfortable, especially if we have a garden where we like to enjoy dinner or just sunbathing. Therefore, the presence of these insects can become a nightmare. In this article we explain how to drive mosquitoes outdoors.