Knox County Tennessee

Mosquito Life Cycle

All mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle. It takes about 10 to 14 days for mosquitoes to complete their life cycle. A mosquito goes through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This life cycle from birth to death is about a month long.

mosquitoes

What is the egg phase of a mosquito? Eggs are laid in clusters and float on the surface of water. They can be together in rafts, groups of hundreds, or lie separately on water or flooded soil. Most eggs hatch into larvae within 48 hours or can survive several years before becoming emerged with water and hatching into larvae. The female mosquito can lay up to 200 eggs at a time and must have a blood meal before she can lay eggs.

mosquitoes

The mosquito larvae will live in water from 4 to 14 days depending on the water temperature. Larvae come to the water surface frequently to obtain oxygen. They feed on algae and small organisms living in the water.

mosquitoes

The pupa stage is a resting, non-feeding stage. Mosquito pupae must live in water from 1 to 4 days, depending on the species and water temperature. When development is complete, the pupal skin splits and the mosquito emerges as an adult.

mosquitoes

The newly emerged adult mosquito rests on the surface of the water for a short time to dry, allowing all its body parts to harden. Most mosquitoes stay very close to where they hatch, but some species of mosquitoes can fly up to 10 miles in search of a meal. Mosquitoes live in weeds, tall grass, shrubs, and other cool, damp areas. The adult female can live up to a month and the male usually only lives one week. Only the female mosquitoes bite humans, birds, horses, and other animals to get sufficient blood to develop eggs, while the males feed on plant juices only. Also, mosquitoes cannot transmit AIDS.

mosquitoes

Some people attract and are bitten more often by mosquitoes than other people. Cologne, perfumes, and scented body lotions can attract mosquitoes. Dark-colored clothing is also more attractive to mosquitoes. Everyone's body is different, and some people produce odors more enticing for mosquitoes.



Need to report a public
health emergency?

Call 865-215-5093

Have Questions? Call: (865) 215-5555 Email: Health@knoxcounty.org

On the first Wednesday of every month, all KCHD offices and clinics are closed in the morning for staff in-service. On these days, the main location (140 Dameron Ave.) will open at 11 a.m. and the West Clinic (1028 Old Cedar Bluff) will open at 11:30 a.m.

Clinics will also open at 10:30 a.m. (Main location) and 11 a.m. (West Clinic) on the following Wednesdays: April 17 and July 17. All other offices will open at 8 a.m.