Mosquitoes

Description: Mosquitoes are insects, they have 6 legs. Their body has 3 parts. They have two narrow wings. Mosquitoes are small. They are less than one-half inch long. Mosquitoes have two antennae which are used for smelling and touching things. Mosquitoes have a slender body. The eyes of the mosquito are very big. The mosquito's life cycle has 4 stages: Stage 1: Eggs Stage 2: Larva Stage 3: Pupa Stage 4: Adult Defense: Mosquitoes fly away to defend themselves. Mosquito larva and pupa have many enemies in the water. Frogs are one of their enemies. Others are wolf spiders, fish, newts, diving beetles and dragon flies. The bladder plant is also dangerous to the mosquito. This is an underwater plant that traps tiny creatures. Once the mosquito is trapped, the insect dies and is eaten by the plant. Diet: Mosquito larva feed on small plants and animals in the water. After mating, mosquitoes need a meal of blood to help the eggs develop. Habitat: Mosquitoes live in areas where it is very wet. They are found in mostly tropical (very hot) and temperate (warm and cool) countries. Cool facts: Mosquitoes do not bite you, they pump saliva into the your skin. The saliva causes the itching. Only female mosquitoes can suck blood. Their eyes have many lenses that see many things. Mosquitoes can carry diseases called yellow fever and malaria. If water is left in toys or buckets outside for a long time, you may find mosquito eggs in them.