Mosquito Biology
General Structure & Life Cycle: The mosquito has four distinct stages in its life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The adult is an active flying insect, while the other stages occur in water, although the eggs of some species are deposited on moist soil or other objects subject to subsequent flooding. Regardless of the egg deposition site, they must be in contact with water in order to hatch.
Eggs of permanent-water breeders are deposited on the water surface and may hatch in 1-3 days depending on temperature. Flood water species deposit their eggs on moist soil or another wet substrate and display a wide variation in incubation periods from several days to a year or more depending on the species and the season.
The Larvae (wrigglers) of all mosquitoes live in water and have 4 developmental periods or instars. At the end of each instar, the larva sheds its skin by a process call molting. Mosquito larvae have three body regions -- the head, thorax and abdomen. 
The brushy mouthparts on the underside of the head vibrate rapidly to sweep in small food organisms.
Unlike most other insects, the mosquito Pupa is very active and like the larva, lives in water. It differs greatly from the larva in both shape and appearance. The pupal stage last for only a few days. Feeding does not take place during the pupal stage.
The Adult mosquito is entirely terrestrial, capable of flight and feeds mostly on animal blood and nectar. All parts of the body are covered to some degree with coarse hairs or scales which contribute to various color patters. Those patterns are often useful for identification to species.
