Mosquito

Mosquitoes are small flying insects in the family Culicidae, found in most parts of the world.

Mosquitoes are small flying insects in the family Culicidae, found in most parts of the world and present across Canada. Only female mosquitoes bite people and other animals for blood, and some species can transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, and yellow fever.

Biology

Mosquitoes are slender insects with one pair of wings and a long proboscis adapted for piercing and sucking. Their life cycle includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Feeding and behaviour

Female mosquitoes bite to take a blood meal, which helps them produce eggs, while males feed on plant juices. Mosquitoes are active both day and night and can locate hosts using movement, body heat, carbon dioxide, and other chemical cues.

Health importance

A small fraction of mosquito species transmit human disease, but those species are major public-health vectors. Mosquito-borne illnesses include malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Zika fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus, and filariasis.

Habitat and reproduction

Mosquitoes are closely associated with standing water, where many species lay eggs. They are common in warm, humid environments, though some species also live in temperate regions and survive cold seasons in protected stages.