diagram showing diversity among dipterans

Diversity among the dipterans: (from left to right, top) crane fly, horse bot fly, big-headed fly, moth fly, robber
fly, (bottom) louse fly, bee fly, horse fly, gall midge, mosquito.(more)
The slender, elongated body of the adult is covered with scales as are the veins of the
wings. Mosquitoes are also characterized by long, fragile-looking legs and elongated,
piercing mouthparts. The feathery antennae of the male are generally bushier than those
of the female. The males, and sometimes the females, feed on nectar and
other plant juices. In most species, however, the females require the proteins obtained
from a blood meal in order to mature their eggs. Different species of mosquitoes show
preferences and, in many cases, narrow restrictions as to host animals.

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The eggs are laid on a surface of water and hatch into aquatic larvae, or wrigglers, which
swim with a jerking, wriggling movement. In most species, larvae feed on algae and
organic debris, although a few are predatory and may even feed on other mosquitoes.
Unlike most insects, mosquitoes in the pupal stage, called tumblers, are active and free-
swimming. The pupae breathe by means of tubes on the thorax. The adults mate soon
after emerging from their pupal cases. The duration of the life cycle varies greatly
depending on the species.

Mosquitoes are apparently attracted to host animals by moisture, lactic acid, carbon
dioxide, body heat, and movement. The mosquito’s hum results from the high frequency
of its wingbeats, and the female’s wingbeat frequency may serve as a means of sex
recognition.
Anopheles mosquitoes
There are three important mosquito genera. Anopheles, the only known carrier of
malaria, also transmits filariasis and encephalitis. Anopheles mosquitoes are easily
recognized in their resting position, in which the proboscis, head, and body are held on a
straight line to each other but at an angle to the surface. The spotted colouring on the
wings results from coloured scales. Egg laying usually occurs in water containing heavy
vegetation. The female deposits her eggs singly on the water surface. Anopheles larvae lie
parallel to the water surface and breathe through posterior spiracular plates on
the abdomen instead of through a tube, as do most other mosquito larvae. The life
cycle is from 18 days to several weeks.
Culex mosquitoes
The genus Culex is a carrier of viral encephalitis and, in tropical and subtropical
climates, of filariasis. It holds its body parallel to the resting surface and its proboscis is
bent downward relative to the surface. The wings, with scales on the veins and the
margin, are uniform in colour. The tip of the female’s abdomen is blunt and has
retracted cerci (sensory appendages). Egg laying may occur on almost any body of fresh
water, including standing polluted water. The eggs, which float on the water, are joined
in masses of 100 or more. The long and slender Culex larvae have breathing tubes that
contain hair tufts. They hang head downward at an angle of 45° from the water surface.
The life cycle, usually 10 to 14 days, may be longer in cold weather. The northern house
mosquito (C. pipiens) is the most abundant species in northern regions, while the
southern house mosquito (C. quinquefasciatus) is abundant in southern regions, namely
the tropics and subtropics.
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Aedes mosquitoes

mosquito
Mosquito (Aedes species).
The genus Aedes carries the pathogens that cause yellow fever, dengue, Zika fever, and
encephalitis. Like Culex, it holds its body parallel to the surface with the proboscis bent
down. The wings are uniformly coloured. Aedes may be distinguished from Culex by its
silver thorax with white markings and posterior spiracular bristles. The tip of the
female’s abdomen is pointed and has protruding cerci. Aedes usually lays eggs in
floodwater, rain pools, or salt marshes. The eggs are capable of withstanding long
periods of dryness. The short, stout larvae have a breathing tube containing a pair of
tufts, and the larvae hang head down at a 45° angle from the water surface. The life cycle
may be as short as 10 days or, in cool weather, as long as several months. A. aegypti, the
important carrier of the virus responsible for yellow fever, has white bands on its legs
and spots on its abdomen and thorax. This domestic species breeds in almost any kind of
container, from flower pots to discarded car-tire casings. The eastern salt marsh
mosquito (A. sollicitans), the black salt marsh mosquito (A. taeniorhynchus), and the
summer salt marsh mosquito (A. dorsalis) are important mosquitoes in coastal marsh
areas that experience daily or occasional flooding with brackish or salt water. They
are prolific breeders, strong fliers, and irritants to animals, including humans.
Mosquito control

mosquito repellent
Scientists have created a new class of mosquito repellents based on naturally occurring compounds that are
effective at staving off mosquitoes with potentially fewer environmental side effects than current products.
(more)
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Because mosquitoes are such prolific carriers of infectious diseases, preventing them
from feeding on humans is considered a key global health strategy. The likelihood
of disease transmission can be reduced through the use of mosquito repellent, long
clothing that covers the arms and legs, screens in open doors and windows, and
insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets. Mosquito populations can be controlled in part
through the elimination of sources of standing water, which provide ideal breeding sites
for mosquitoes. A surface film of oil can be applied to standing water to clog the
breathing tubes of wrigglers, which may also be killed by larvicides. Insecticides at times
are used to destroy adult mosquitoes indoors.

Researchers have investigated the possibility of manipulating mosquito populations to

prevent the production of viable mosquito offspring, thereby reducing the number of
mosquitoes. Researchers have also identified ways in which male mosquitoes may be
genetically engineered to transmit a gene to their offspring that causes the offspring to
die before becoming sexually mature. Scientists have found that female mosquitoes are
less attracted to humans when exposed to small compounds related to
the neurotransmitter molecule neuropeptide Y. These compounds potentially can be
emitted via dispensers in areas where mosquitoes are abundant, helping to deter them
from biting humans.