This is the image that I created for the children's book page. We created these to teach people about the native species in our area, and I got tasked with teaching about the mosquito. On this page you can find the image that describes a lot about the animal as well as some information pertaining to the mosquito.
Size, Lifespan, Anatomical/Physiological Features
At about an inch long, they look like mosquito hawks. Unlike most insects, they have scales on their wings. The eggs are laid in standing water. Eggs hatch into larva in 2 to 3 days. Larva come to the water surface to breathe and feed on organic matter, such as algae. Larva turn into pupa. This is the resting stage, pupae live in the water but do not feed. Adult mosquitoes emerge from the pupa case in 2 -3 days depending on temperature. The newly emerged female adults are ready to find a blood meal. The average mosquito will live for about 2 weeks.
Habitat
Lives in ditches, water irrigation systems, and anywhere where there is standing water. Mosquitoes most commonly infest ponds, marshes, swamps and other wetland habitats. Needs standing water to lay eggs.
What It Eats
It is a parasite, and the females drink blood of birds. Cows and people are usually accidental.
- Males drink glucose from plants.
What Eats It
Birds, frogs, mosquito fish, guppies, black widows, and dragonflies.
Other Behaviors
Likes to dwell in damp places. Blood supplies females with nutrients needed to produce eggs. A mosquito may bite only two or three times during her life, but she can develop hundreds of eggs from each blood meal.
At about an inch long, they look like mosquito hawks. Unlike most insects, they have scales on their wings. The eggs are laid in standing water. Eggs hatch into larva in 2 to 3 days. Larva come to the water surface to breathe and feed on organic matter, such as algae. Larva turn into pupa. This is the resting stage, pupae live in the water but do not feed. Adult mosquitoes emerge from the pupa case in 2 -3 days depending on temperature. The newly emerged female adults are ready to find a blood meal. The average mosquito will live for about 2 weeks.
Habitat
Lives in ditches, water irrigation systems, and anywhere where there is standing water. Mosquitoes most commonly infest ponds, marshes, swamps and other wetland habitats. Needs standing water to lay eggs.
What It Eats
It is a parasite, and the females drink blood of birds. Cows and people are usually accidental.
- Males drink glucose from plants.
What Eats It
Birds, frogs, mosquito fish, guppies, black widows, and dragonflies.
Other Behaviors
Likes to dwell in damp places. Blood supplies females with nutrients needed to produce eggs. A mosquito may bite only two or three times during her life, but she can develop hundreds of eggs from each blood meal.