Mosquito larvae

Culicidae · Aquatic life

Whole animal · Photo: JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA

NativeAquatic insect

Also called Wrigglers, Mosquito pupae (tumblers), Wigglers

How to identify Mosquito larvae

Small larvae up to about 1/2 inch that hang just under the surface
Breathing tube (siphon) at the tail end touches the surface (Anopheles lie flat instead)
Wriggle down quickly when disturbed, then float back up
Comma shaped pupae (tumblers) also rest at the surface

Similar species

Midge larvae live on the bottom and have no breathing tube. Phantom midge larvae (Chaoborus) are nearly transparent and hover in open water instead of hanging at the surface.

Profile

Season	Spring through early fall; numbers climb in the heat of midsummer.
Starts	Active once water is above about 50 F; fastest development in warm water
Depth	At the water surface
How it spreads or reproduces	Adult females lay eggs on the water or on damp soil that later floods; a generation can take about one to two weeks in warm water
Habitat	Still, shallow water: pond edges choked with plants or floating debris, stagnant ditches, flooded fields, tires, buckets and other containers; rare in open, wave washed or moving water with fish.

Why it matters in a lake

Some species, especially Culex tarsalis, carry West Nile virus in the region. Keeping edges clear of dense plants and debris, moving or aerating water and healthy fish populations help; Bti products target mosquito larvae with little effect on other wildlife.