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The mosquito life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa, and a couple of adult stages. Eggs are laid on the water surface. They hatch into motile larvae that feed on aquatic algae and organic material. The adult females of most species have tube like mouthparts (called a proboscis) that can pierce the skin of a host and feed on blood, which contains protein and iron needed to produce eggs. Thousands of mosquito species feed on the blood of various hosts vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish; along with some invertebrates, primarily other arthropods. This loss of blood is seldom of any importance to the host.
The life cycle typically takes up two weeks, but depending on conditions, it can range from 4 days to as long as a month.
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