What are mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are a group of true flies (insects with just one pair of wings) that comprise the family Culicidae. All mosquitoes require standing water for their eggs to hatch and their immature stages to develop. Each egg gives rise to just one aquatic larva. The larva filter feeds on microbes and other particulates, and proceeds to grow and develop through several larval stages. It then molts to become an aquatic pupa. The pupa doesn’t feed, but – much like the chrysalis of a butterfly – transforms during this stage to become either an adult male or female.  The adults then take to the wing to mate and seek food.  Males and females visit flowers, fruits and other sources of sugars for daily survival. Only the females can blood feed, and they do this to gain nutriment to form their eggs. 

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