Description and photo of mosquito larvae. What mosquito larvae look like in water: structure and stages of development

Description and classification

The mosquito larva is called a bloodworm. Their color may vary depending on the species they belong to . In particular:

The squeak mosquito has brown or black larvae.
Malaria mosquitoes usually have green-colored babies.
The bell is characterized by a red color.

Such creatures are born from mosquito eggs, which are laid directly in the water. Most often this happens in ponds, large puddles or pits with rainwater.

At the time of birth, the size of the larvae usually does not exceed 2 millimeters; over time they can increase to 1 centimeter. They have 2 eyes, and on the ring of the body there is a special tube through which the process of their breathing is carried out. In addition, bristles are located throughout the body of the individual, thanks to which it can move in the water; they are called swimming hairs.

In an effort to breathe, they settle down, raising their tails up, on the surface of the reservoir; after absorbing oxygen, the larvae set off on their further journey. Although water is their natural habitat, they can dive for only a short time; they can spend no more than 15 minutes at depth, then the available air supply runs out.

Title and description

Almost all aquarists who care for their ornamental fish and buy or independently obtain live food for them are familiar with mosquito larvae. They are called bloodworms, which look like small worms. The color of the larvae depends on the type of mosquito:

black or brown - in the squeak mosquito;
green - malarial;
red ones are at the bell.

Such creatures are born from mosquito eggs laid directly in the water. Typically these are shallow fresh water bodies, ditches, large puddles, rainwater pits or containers.

The size of the larvae at birth is 1-2 mm, during growth it can reach up to 1 cm. The chest part is slightly wider than the abdomen, there are 2 black eyes on the head, as can be seen in the photo of mosquito larvae. At the end of the body there is a process - a breathing tube through which the creature breathes, which is closed by a special valve.

Interesting!
Throughout the body there are bristles with which the larva swims and moves in the water, called swimming hairs. The longest of them is located near the tail, playing the role of a “rudder” and a “motor”, which allows you to change the direction and speed of swimming.

In order to breathe, the worms stand with their tail up on the surface of the reservoir, absorbing oxygen from the air, and then swim further. Mosquito larvae are in the water all the time, but can dive deep for no longer than 15 minutes, as long as there is a supply of air.

Appearance of the larva and structure

When answering the question of what a mosquito larva looks like, one can describe a small worm, the body length of which usually does not exceed 1 cm. But there are some differences that are clearly noticeable upon careful examination: their thoracic region is expanded in relation to the articulated abdomen, and on a large head There are 2 black eyes.

The color of the larvae depends on the type of mosquito. In the well-known squeaker they are brown, while in the malarial one they are green.

At the end of the larval body there is a long process, obliquely located in relation to the abdomen. This is a breathing tube, at the end of which there are 2 tiny holes: through them vital oxygen enters the body.

If you approach a body of water where mosquito larvae live and sweep your hand sharply over the surface of the water, they will abruptly take off and rush deeper into the water to hide from potential danger. To do this, they are helped by so-called swimming hairs. They are collected in bunches and attached to the body of the worm. The largest of them is located on the tail segment, playing the role of a kind of motor and rudder, setting the pace of swimming and the direction of movement in the water. The entire life of a mosquito in the larval stage lasts on average 3–4 weeks. Its exact duration depends not only on the species, but also on environmental conditions, primarily water temperature. During this time, intermediate molts occur: the insect sheds its body cover - the exoskeleton - so that it can increase in size.

Mosquito larvae are characterized by intensive growth: when they first hatch from the egg, their length does not exceed only 1 mm and they are almost invisible to the naked eye. By the end of the stage, the body stretches up to 1 cm. Body weight increases even faster: according to biologists, its difference from the original can be up to 500 times. When the development of the larva ends, it transforms into a pupa with a more complex structure.

Nutrition and lifespan

The larval stage of mosquitoes lasts 3-4 weeks, its duration depends on temperature and other environmental conditions. During these days, she manages to shed several times, shedding her exoskeleton and gradually increasing in size. The permissible temperature for the normal development of mosquito larvae is in the range of +10-+35°C, while the optimal temperature is +25-+30°C.

Interesting!
Along with the length, as the larva grows, its weight also increases: according to biologists, it increases 500 times in 20-30 days.

Their main food is small living creatures and microorganisms found in the reservoir: unicellular algae, decomposing plant organic matter. To obtain food, the larva filters 1 liter of water per day, which is quite a lot for such a small living creature.

The next stage of mosquito development, the formation of the pupa, occurs after the transformation of the larva itself and is a more complex creature.

Life activity of an insect

The larval stage lasts up to 4 weeks. The next stage of her life is transformation into a pupa with a more complex structure. However, many insects die soon after birth for various reasons:

Adverse weather conditions (low temperature, natural disasters, etc.).
Predators (fish and amphibians feed on larvae).
Poor environmental conditions (water pollution with oil film, etc.).

Strict selection is compensated by the high fertility of females, so it is too early to talk about a decrease in the mosquito population.

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In case of urgent need, pedicia absorb oxygen with the help of gill appendages. Malarials absorb it throughout the body. The rest, in order to breathe, “throw” their tail, which has 2 small holes at the end, onto the surface of the water. This way they inhale oxygen. In this case, insects can dive to a depth of no longer than 15 minutes (as long as there is a supply of air).

Due to the fact that mosquito larvae pass water through themselves, they play an important role as a reservoir cleaner.

The mosquito larva feeds on algae and organic microorganisms. To eat, the insect filters 1 liter of water per day. The oral cavity contains a filtration system that captures the nutrients it needs.

An exception is the larva of the anopheles barberi mosquito. It feeds on the larvae of other individuals.

How does he breathe?

At the end of the body of mosquito larvae there is a special process - this is the breathing tube. This part is required for the respiration of organisms. They swim to the surface of the reservoir and stick out a tube through which oxygen enters. The respiratory system is common among common mosquitoes.

There are mosquito larvae that receive dissolved oxygen. They absorb it through the surface of the body. Species live at depth; they rarely swim to the top of the water.

The larvae that live at the bottom of reservoirs have special gill filaments, with the help of which they can receive a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Mosquito larvae are an important stage in the development of insects. During it, systems and internal organs are formed that will be required for the further development of parasites. It takes about two weeks, then the pupal stage begins, from which the imago or adult emerges.

In order for a healthy mosquito to form from a larva, many important conditions must be met, which will subsequently affect the growth and formation of the internal system of the bloodsucker.

Mosquito breeding process

These are bisexual creatures, so a male and a female participate in the reproduction of mosquitoes. Future offspring go through 4 stages of development, which are typical for insects with complete transformation:

egg;
larva;
chrysalis;
imago (sexually mature individual).

Moreover, insects are “land” creatures only in the very last stage of mosquito development: all the rest live in bodies of water or in the immediate vicinity of them. After all, they need water to develop.

Reproductive system of mosquitoes

Representatives of the family have internal fertilization: after mating, the male’s seed enters the female’s reproductive tract, after which the formation of eggs begins. The reproductive organs of mosquitoes are located inside their abdomen: ovaries in females and testes in males. The microscopic external genitalia of the male have a very complex structure, the features of which are key to distinguishing species that are externally similar to each other. Females have a small ovipositor in the form of a short tube: eggs are born through it.

Head structure

These individuals have perfect infrared vision. There are compound eyes on the head that provide full all-round visibility. This allows them to avoid danger and for the same reason, it is not so easy for us to kill this insect.

Also on the head there are antennae, which include 15 segments. The very first segment is located on the head, and the second has Johnston's organ, which is an organ of hearing. The first distinguishing feature between males and females is the antennae.

After the first 2 come the whip segments; in females they are cylindrical in shape and covered with short hairs, which are quite few. But in males they have a conical shape, which is covered with thick and long hairs.

Even without using a microscope, this is easy to notice because the antennae appear fluffy. According to scientists, these bloodsucking antennae partially replace the olfactory organ, since it is absent.

They have a piercing-sucking type of mouthparts. It includes 6 sharp needles that are covered with a flexible, soft cover. The cover performs the protective function of the proboscis and protects it from damage. The first four needles are placed in the form of a stiletto; the first outer ones have an additional file, which provides easy puncture of the skin. The role of their teeth is performed by hard chitinous bristles.

They have hollow internal tubes, it is designed for saturation, through which the mosquito sucks blood. The mosquito uses the second tube to inject poison, which serves as an anesthetic.

Despite the rather small size of their heads, mosquitoes have a large brain. It has 2 longitudinal nerve trunks that run parallel to each other in the chest area and connect above the pharynx in the head.

Also, the main part of the brain is supplemented by ganglia; they are nerve nodes that are located in the abdomen and are also located in the chest segments. The ganglia perform a very important function, since they coordinate the work of absolutely all organs.

Features of the initial development of mosquito larvae

The individual development of a mosquito begins from the moment the female lays eggs. Since the optimal place for deposition is ponds, puddles and other wet objects, mosquito larvae first live in water, feeding on all kinds of plants and microorganisms picked up from its surface.

At the initial stage of its development, the larva can reach only one millimeter in length, while its body is represented by the head, abdomen and chest.

As you can see, the body structure of a larva is very different from that of an adult, such as a male mosquito, because it lacks wings and limbs.
Small larvae are quite active and mobile; they can easily be seen on the surface of the water surface of swamps and lakes. In order to gain access to oxygen, the larvae are suspended from the surface of the water using a breathing tube. It is a kind of hose that extends from the abdomen of the larva and has a water-repellent tip.
This structure of the mosquito body, created by nature, allows the larvae to survive the first stage of their development in the most comfortable conditions and move to a new stage as older individuals.

Life cycle of a larva

An individual can remain at this stage of development for several weeks. The duration of this period is influenced by such environmental conditions as temperature, water composition, availability of food, etc. As a rule, in warm conditions, the development of the larva occurs faster, and it moves to the next stage of its development in the form of an individual measuring 8-10 mm. But winter mosquitoes can develop much more slowly, so mosquitoes in an apartment in winter are a rather rare occurrence.
During development at the larval stage, the individual mosquito increases in size about ten times, and the volume of its body increases up to 500 times, and this despite the fact that the larva does not yet have mosquito wings and limbs. It is noteworthy that to ensure such rapid growth, nature endowed the larvae with the ability to shed their exoskeleton. So, in order to become larger, the larva goes through four stages of molting, and after each stage it increases in size and turns into an individual with a more complex system of internal organs, which then becomes a pupa.

Diet

The mosquito remains in the larval stage within 4 weeks, the duration is related to environmental weather conditions. During this period, the creature molts repeatedly and increases significantly in size. The temperature required for the development of larvae varies from 10 to 35 degrees; the optimum is considered to be between 25 and 30 degrees. In parallel with the length, the creature’s weight also increases; according to available data, it becomes 500 times larger per month.

The mosquito larva feeds mainly on microorganisms present in the reservoir, that is, the most primitive algae and decaying substances of organic origin. To provide nutrition, this creature filters 1 liter of water volume throughout the day. The next stage of development is the formation of a pupa , which is already a more complex natural creation.

Habitat

Different types of mosquitoes have their own temperature regimes for development. Some people like well-lit water bodies warmed by the sun's rays, while others prefer to stay in the shade. Temperature regimes in different climatic zones differ markedly. It is believed that larvae can develop between 10 and 35 °C.

The optimal temperature is 25-30 °C. Mosquitoes use large bodies of water for laying eggs less often. In such conditions, there are many enemies for the larvae. Almost all types of fish happily eat them at different stages of development.

Mosquito larvae die in water contaminated with oil products. A thin oily film on the surface prevents them from breathing. However, some species survive in such conditions, having adapted to breathe oxygen dissolved in water.

Where does it live?

Different types of mosquitoes carefully select a place to lay eggs. It is important for them that the cycle and development occur under favorable conditions.

When searching for a location, the determining factors are:

Illumination indicator;
Presence of nutritional components;
Optimal water temperature.

For future offspring, the female prefers small bodies of water with standing water. The habitat of the mosquito larva must have a large amount of nutrients that are required for full development and for the normal transition to the pupal state.

An acceptable temperature range is considered to be 10-35 degrees Celsius above zero. The most optimal indicator is considered to be 25-350C. Females rarely choose large bodies of water; in them it will be difficult for them to resist predators.

However, mosquito larvae cannot live in waters that are too polluted. If they contain a high content of petroleum products, then almost all individuals will die.

The fact is that the oil film that appears on the surface of the water surface does not allow organisms to breathe fully; it blocks the supply of oxygen. But this does not apply to individuals that use dissolved oxygen for respiration.

The habitat determines the breathing patterns. Some organisms obtain oxygen from the air. To do this, they use a breathing tube, which is located at the end of the body.

Individuals attach to the surface of the water and spend most of their time in this state. They can only change position when danger approaches.

Breast

If we talk about the general appearance, then this part looks quite massive, but after studying it in more detail, you can understand that this is not entirely true. It includes 3 segments that are unevenly developed.

The strongest and most developed middle part, it contains all the flying muscles, and the wings are also attached. In addition to being responsible for flight, the middle part provides respiratory functions.

The front part includes the insect's fairly long neck. The rear part, the metanotum, has another spiracle and is also responsible for the insect’s respiration, but unlike the middle segment, it is rather poorly developed.

Each segment has a pair of legs. The paws, in turn, also consist of segments, of which there are 5 on each limb. On the last segment there are suction cups and claws, which allow the mosquito to stay on absolutely any surface and ideally stay on the ceiling.

It’s interesting, but now mosquitoes have a slightly different body structure; previously they had 4 wings, but now there are only 2 left. However, now they still have rudiments of the halteres from the second pair of wings, which produce this incredibly annoying squeak. By the way, only females squeak, as well as bite.

The wings have an oval elongated shape and a transparent color. They consist of veins and connecting membranes; the plates are covered with very small scales. Most individuals have transparent scales, but there are also those with different color shades. If colored scales accumulate in one place, a colored spot is formed.

In species of mosquitoes that have black and green colored bodies, colored scales accumulate in such a way that a pattern is formed. It’s hard to believe that these small insects wave with a vibration frequency of up to 1000 times per second. Some scientists argue that the wings also contain nerve endings, but in this case they act as sensory organs.

Influence of water quality

It is easiest for larvae living in swamps, muddy pools and whirlpools to satisfy their nutrient needs.
The water in such reservoirs is saturated with all kinds of microorganisms, which rapidly multiply and become food for the larvae. But mosquitoes that live in clean waters may have difficulty feeding, and their dark color may be noticeable to predators. At the same time, in reservoirs there are quite a lot of those who eat mosquitoes - these are water bugs, swimming beetles and beetles. Toads, birds and fish that notice a mosquito on the surface of the water can also feast on the larvae. The larvae are also demanding of water purity. They will not be able to survive in lakes or rivers polluted by household waste or petroleum products.

Where and how does development occur?

The mosquito larva can remain in this state for several weeks. It is important for the insect because during it the formation of organs and body parts that are required for the normal existence of the pupa and adult occurs.

The following factors may influence life expectancy:

Temperature indicators;
Water composition;
The presence of sufficient food;
Illumination.

Development takes place in stagnant bodies of water. They must be warm with a temperature not lower than 10-120C. Under these conditions, growth occurs much faster.

During the stage, an individual mosquito can increase in size up to 10 times, its volume can increase up to 500 times. In order for this rapid process to proceed normally, nature has endowed insects with the ability to shed their exoskeleton.

As the body grows, it goes through four stages of molting. At each stage, it increases in size and turns into an individual with a complex system of internal organs. Next, a pupa is formed.

What conditions are required for normal life?

Mosquito species vary greatly in the comfort conditions they require; some require hot and humid tropical climates, while others will thrive near the Arctic Circle.

In addition, it can be noted that some families choose a pond that is well heated by direct sunlight, while others choose a shady pond. In general, the permissible temperature for them is 10-35 degrees, but the best is 25-30 degrees, at which development and growth occur much faster.

Variety of species

There are a number of varieties of such creatures, differing in both appearance, body structure, and behavior. May be mentioned:

Malaria mosquitoes. They have a large head, large chest, and the abdomen consists of several components. But, unlike other types of mosquitoes, they do not have a breathing tube, but rather have special spiracles located in one of the segments present on the sides. They live on the surface of the water and always try to stay parallel to it. To feed, they catch the smallest organisms with brushes and send them into their own mouth.

Malaria mosquitoes live on the surface of the water
Dergun mosquitoes, also called bells. This species is considered the most common; it is used by fishermen as bait, and aquarium owners feed their pets with such creatures. Bloodworms, as bell larvae are called, are sold in the appropriate stores fresh or frozen, and are constantly in great demand. Bells are bright red in color, and the size of their larvae can reach 3 centimeters. They live at the bottom of reservoirs, where they find food for themselves, but periodically strive to float to the surface for the purpose of breathing. They consume plant remains as food. Immediately after hatching, the larvae are gray, but soon turn red due to their high hemoglobin levels. They also have salivary glands, with the help of which they create a reliable house for themselves from nearby garbage, and it is this that later protects them from enemies.
Long-legged mosquitoes lay larvae in swampy areas
Stinging mosquitoes that live near the forest. They have special tufts of hair located at the base of the body.
Centipedes, the larvae of which usually appear in wetlands. Their development takes place in a swamp environment, and in appearance they resemble ordinary worms of a gray-brown hue. The centipedes have a large head, and at the end of the body there is a star-shaped mouth opening.
Pedicius. This species is characterized by so-called false legs, with the help of which they move along the bottom of the reservoir. There can be up to 10 such legs. These creatures are able to survive in extremely polluted water due to the presence of gill appendages.
Biter, which is one of the most numerous species of the mosquito population. Initially, this species lived only in the African region, but now they can often be found in any country, and they also act as carriers of dangerous diseases such as dengue or yellow fever.

Malarial

The larvae of malaria insects (anopheles) have a large head with oral brushes for food, a large chest and an abdomen of several segments. Unlike others, they do not have a respiratory tube at the tip of the abdomen, but have special spiracles in the 8th segment on the sides of the body. Their life passes near the surface (and they try to stay parallel to it), where they breathe and feed, catching small organisms with special brushes and directing them into their mouths.

Types of larvae and mosquitoes

Mosquito larvae The structure of the body and important organs of different species of such creatures may differ, as well as their behavior.

Malarial

Biting mosquito larvae

This small mosquito, the most numerous of its kind, is distributed across all continents except snowy Antarctica. It lives in shady forest areas and in the tundra. Activity begins in mid-April and continues until extreme cold. This happens because female biting mosquitoes lay eggs in late autumn, and with the first warm days, countless larvae can be seen in puddles. To begin development, they only need a temperature slightly above 5 °C. This type of mosquito is very dangerous as it transmits serious diseases such as the Zika virus and yellow fever.

The characteristic features of the biting mosquito are clearly visible white stripes on the limbs and body. Female biters feed on blood and then lay eggs. To do this, they do not have to be satiated; a small amount is enough to give birth to offspring. That is why this species is so numerous.

The eggs laid have a yellowish tint, but within a day they darken and become brown. Hatched biting mosquito larvae grow and develop in an aquatic environment. They hang upside down in the water. They breathe oxygen, so they cannot stay at depth all the time. Dead tissue particles, microorganisms and algae become their food. The larva becomes a pupa and rises to the water surface, where it lives for about 2 days before the mosquito appears.

Swamp mosquito larvae

This species is also known as meadow grass. It is not a blood-sucking species, feeding exclusively on food of plant origin (nectar). You won’t find them in cities, since swamp mosquitoes live in meadows flooded with water, in forest areas where there is a lot of moss, or in other damp places near water. In appearance, they are similar to the long-legged mosquito, differing from them in the venation of their wings. They can be seen most often at dusk, slowly flying in the air.

The female meadow mosquito lays eggs directly in water, in damp soil or in damp moss. While in these places, the hatched larva feeds on the remains of decomposed algae and plants. Some, however, are capable of acting as predators. They build silk tubes and breathe air, for which they often pierce the roots of aquatic plants to obtain oxygen.

Stinging mosquito larvae

The larvae of mosquitoes of this species differ from others in the presence of hair tufts on the siphon, located at its very base. Adults have spiracle setae, dark spots located on the wings and white rings on the legs. This species lives in areas close to the forest zone.

The place of birth and development of stinging mosquito larvae are reservoirs, small in volume and size, which are formed temporarily after heavy rains both within the city and in rural areas.

centipedes

The larvae of the centipede mosquito, depending on the species, grow from 15 to 40 mm. The body color of the larva is dirty gray, the head is not very large, but clearly visible. There are various appendages on the body: pseudopods, tracheal gills, respiratory tubes, growths. Because of this, the larvae sometimes look very unusual.

They grow and develop most often in marshy soil; strong jaws allow them to feed not only on rotting plant debris, but also on soft parts of plants.

Pedicia

The larvae of pedicia or swamp mosquito reach a length of 10–30 mm. The body is cylindrical, narrowed in front, with 2 breathing tubes at the back. The head is elongated and can be almost completely retracted into the prothorax. The body has 4 or 5 pairs of false legs with hooks at the ends. The legs help the larva move along the bottom.

Pedicia larvae can breathe underwater due to the presence of gill appendages located on the last segment of the abdomen.

Benefits and harms

Not only is the development of mosquito larvae of significant interest to researchers in this field, but these creatures also perform water filtration in fresh water bodies. They act as fish food and are used for successful fishing. Their presence determines how clean the reservoir is, because if there is significant pollution, the larvae inevitably die.

The only real pests can be considered centipede larvae , whose eating habits cause unambiguous harm to crops; these creatures gnaw seedlings and roots. Overall, mosquito larvae are a worthy subject for study, and their usefulness in nature for many reasons is also beyond doubt.

Who are bloodworms?

Representatives of the Chironomus family represent a separate group. They are better known as bloodworms. Other names: long-tailed mosquito, ringing mosquito, chironomida. Bloodworms are the larva of the most common common mosquito. They prefer to settle at the bottom of the reservoir.

Within 2 weeks in the larval stage, individuals grow to 15-16 mm. Mosquito larvae living at the bottom of the lake feed on silt deposits and microorganisms. Respiration occurs due to the presence of gill filaments. They can also absorb it over the entire surface of the body.

On a note!
The bloodworm has a bright red color. This is due to the large amount of hemoglobin. The high iron content in the body allows it to survive even in conditions of acute oxygen deficiency. Often a mosquito larva is called a bloodworm not only of the specified species. This statement is incorrect.

Bloodworms and larvae of malaria mosquitoes

Bloodworms are a separate group of mosquitoes (bells, squeakers, long-tailed mosquitoes), which in the larval stage look like worms. Within 1.5-2 weeks they grow rapidly and reach sizes of up to 16 mm. To saturate with oxygen, they use gill filaments, and some of the air penetrates inside through the body of the insect.

Their body contains a fairly large amount of hemoglobin, as a result of which bloodworms have a rich red tint. And thanks to the presence of iron, these pests tolerate prolonged oxygen starvation.

The larvae of malaria mosquitoes have a characteristic feature - they do not have respiratory tubes (for gas exchange, the larvae are attached to the surface of the water using special bristles on the front of the abdomen).

Bloodworms and mosquito larvae play an important role in the natural system. They participate in the food chain, serving as food for reptiles, fish, birds, hedgehogs, crustaceans, toads, seagulls and other insects. They are sold in pet stores as food for aquarium fish. They are parasitized by various types of fungi and bacteria.

Thus, the larva is an integral stage of mosquito formation, as well as an important developmental phase for the natural environment.