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City of Greater Shepparton
URL: http://www.greatershepparton.com.au/residents/health/mosquito/mosquitobiology/
Mosquito biology
Life cycle of a mosquito; modified from: Goddard, J. (1993). A Physician's Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance. CRC Press. Florida.
The mosquito life-cycle begins with an adult female mosquito laying about 20-30 eggs on the water surface or dependant on species, above the receding water level where they can remain for up to two years awaiting favourable conditions.
The larva emerge from the egg 2-3 days after immersion in water and begin the aquatic stage of their life cycle. Here they develop through four moults increasing in size before reaching the pupa (tumbler) stage. Seven to ten days after the eggs hatch, the adult mosquitoes emerge from a split in the back of the pupa. The female will seek out a blood meal before mating with a male and beginning the whole cycle once again when she lays her eggs.