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MOSQUITOLIFECYCLE

The document describes the life cycle of a mosquito, which has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larva hatches from the egg and lives in water, breathing through a tube and molting four times. It then becomes a pupa, which does not eat but can swim. Finally, an adult emerges from the pupa; females ingest blood to develop eggs while males feed on nectar.

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Rowee Mae Lauron
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37 views2 pages

MOSQUITOLIFECYCLE

The document describes the life cycle of a mosquito, which has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larva hatches from the egg and lives in water, breathing through a tube and molting four times. It then becomes a pupa, which does not eat but can swim. Finally, an adult emerges from the pupa; females ingest blood to develop eggs while males feed on nectar.

Uploaded by

Rowee Mae Lauron
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

LESSON 2:

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A MOSQUITO


MOSQUITO LIFECYCLE:
Insect metamorphosis (Definition: Change in Shape) occurs in two different
ways, depending on the kind of
insect. In the first type, “gradual”
metamorphosis, the immature stage or
nymph, looks similar to the adult stage.
An example of this is the grasshopper
lifecycle. Look at the grasshopper
lifecycle. Notice how the grasshopper
gradually gets bigger and bigger. Also,
notice there is no pupal stage. With
“complete” metamorphosis, the
immature stage, or larvae, looks completely different from the adult stage.
An example of this, is the mosquito.

The mosquito lifecycle has 4 stages, the egg,


larva, pupa, and adult. The egg contains a
growing embryo and the nutrients it needs
before hatching. A mosquito larva hatches
out of the egg and into water. The larva will
feed on algae and small organisms. Sometimes
the larva are called wigglers, because they are
worm like and wiggle in the water. Although
the larva lives in water, it breathes through a long tube or siphon that reaches
to the surface of the water. As the larva continues to grow, it molts 4 times.
In the last molt it becomes a pupa. The pupa does not eat, but can swim to
avoid predators. A few days later, the adult emerges from the pupa. Both
the males and females will feed on nectar. Only the female ingests blood,
which she needs for her eggs to develop.
Complete Metamorphosis: Often times when insects have complete
metamorphosis, the different stages have different needs. What do each of
these stages feed on? Where do they live? You have been given a container
with the different stages. Observe the behavior and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Do I li
ve in water
Embryo: Development or on l
and?
stage found inside an Do I e
egg. at?
What
do I ea
t?
Metamorphosis: What
stage a
Change in shape. m I? Mosquito facts
Do I li Mosquitoes are
ve in water attracted by carbon
Tumbler: common or on l
name of a
and? dioxide in our breath.
Do I e
mosquito pupa
at? They can detect this
from great
What
do I ea distances.
t?
Wiggler: What
stage a
Common name
m I? Some species of
of mosquito mosquitoes feed on
larva. the blood of
amphibians (frogs).
Do I li
ve in water
or on l
and? Blood is needed to
Do I e
at? provide protein for
egg formation.
What
do I ea
t?
What
stage a
m I?

Can you think of any other insects Which stages do you think would be
that have a similar lifecycle? easier to find? Why?

Do larvae and adults compete for Which stages do you think would be
food? How about larvae and pupae? easier to get rid of in your backyard?

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