How to Raise Mosquito Larvae 

Get a water container for your larvae.​ There are many container options that you
can choose from to grow mosquito larvae. Larger containers let you to grow more larvae

Fill your bucket with water.​. Clean water often lacks the nutrients mosquito larvae
need to survive. If you allow rainwater to fill your bucket or other container it will create
an environment that can more easily sustain the larvae you hope to breed.

● Leave debris that falls into the water. It will add to the bacterial growth mosquito
larvae will feed off of.

Place the bucket in a shady area.​ Mosquitos thrive in dirty, shaded water sources.
Avoid placing the bucket in direct sunlight, as the water may become too warm for
larvae to survive on hot days.

● Place the bucket under an overhang or dense tree growth to keep it shaded from
the sun.
● It’s okay if sunlight reaches the bucket at times, but position it so it doesn not
receive direct sunlight for too much of the day.

Wait for mosquitoes to lay their eggs in the water.​ There are very few retailers
that sell mosquito larvae, so you will need to wait for mosquitos to come and lay eggs in
your water source. It will likely only take a week or two to notice mosquito eggs in your
water source.
● Mosquito eggs will look like tiny rafts of dark brown eggs. These egg rafts tend to hatch

within 48 hours.

● When mosquito eggs hatch, they release what looks like abdomens with two antennae.

These hatchlings are commonly referred to as “wrigglers” and are the larvae..
 ● If you do not see any eggs in your bucket within a week or two,

consider moving it somewhere else. The water may be becoming too

warm (if in sunlight) or too cold.

Use an eye dropper or small net to catch your larvae.​ Mosquito larvae are very
small, so make sure you purchase a small aquarium net designed to capture tiny
aquatic life. Nets designed for aquariums are best suited. You can also use an
eyedropper to capture individual or small groups of eggs or larvae.
● Make sure to transfer the larvae or eggs into your aquarium quickly so they don’t
die before you can examine them.
● Pouring your water container into your aquarium is not advised, as you may not want
to introduce the algae and debris in the mosquito’s water to your tank.
Mosquito Life Cycle
Water provides mosquitoes with a place to lay eggs, grow and develop through their
water stages (egg, larval and pupal). After the airborne portion of their life cycle, females
return to water to lay a new batch of fertile eggs. Female mosquitoes usually lay their
eggs on the surface of water or in areas where water can rise, flood the eggs, and
stimulate them to hatch.

Even as adult mosquitoes leave the pupal stage and become adults, water still plays a
role because adult mosquitoes exit the pupal case on the water’s surface and “dry out”
before taking flight.

Mosquito Breeding Habits

Mosquito breeding habits, the fertilization of the female by the male, normally occurs
within a few days after the female has left the water source and is searching for, has
taken or will soon take her first blood meal. While mosquito breeding may occur near a
water source, mosquito breeding is one of the few activities that is not involved directly
with a water source.

Water is also a food source while mosquitoes are in their aquatic stages. Mosquitoes
feed on the many kinds of particulate matter that occur in water. While water is the
source of mosquito food, it also creates the possibility that aquatic-stage mosqui​toes
may become food for other animals, such as fish.

Types of Mosquitoes

Anopheles ​(uh-noph-o-lease)

Adults of this genus are found primarily in temporary rain pools, swamps, and ponds. They feed

readily on humans. Certain species of this genus serve as the primary vector of malaria.
 Coquillettidia ​(co-quill-ah-tid-ee-ah)

This genus has but one species, Cq. perturbans. This species is extremely aggressive and feeds

primarily on large mammals. It is very common throughout all of Florida and is found in very large

numbers, with emergences occurring in early spring and late fall. This species also is suspected of

being a bridge vector for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (transmitting the virus from the bird to a

human or horse).

The larvae of Cq. perturbans are closely associated with aquatic plants such as cattails, water lettuce,

and water hyacinth. The larvae pierce the roots of these plants to obtain oxygen. This species will

often fly great distances in search of blood meals.

Culex ​(cue-lex)

Species of this genus are found breeding in freshwater habitats such as pools, ditches, ponds, and

even in effluents of sewage treatment plants. Species in this genus are considered to be of medical

importance in that they have been proven to be the primary vector of St. Louis Encephalitis and also

play an active role in the transmission of West Nile Virus. They are most active at dusk, but are

known to be active daytime biters.

 Culiseta ​(cue-leh-see-tah)

This genus is the primary vector for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. This species does not feed on

humans; therefore, it cannot transmit the virus to humans. It feeds actively on birds, cycling the

virus from bird to bird. They are most often found in wooded swamps and in crypts left by the roots

of fallen trees.

Mansonia ​(man-so-knee-ah)

This genus is similar to ​Coquillittidia,​ in that it is very aggressive and feeds primarily on larger

mammals. It is most active at sunset. Like ​Coquillittidia​, ​Mansonia​ larvae are associated with

aquatic plants, including water lettuce, water hyacinth, and cattails, using an attenuated siphon to

attach to roots to obtain oxygen. ​Mansonia​ will often fly great distances in search of blood meals.

Adults of this genus are unlikely to be of medical importance.

 Ochlerotatus ​(oh-clair-oh-tate-us)​ and Aedes ​(A-dees)

Once an individual genus, ​Aedes​ has now been divided into 2 different genera. Species of these

genera are found in temporary flood water pools, fresh and brackish marshes, and in natural and

artificial containers. Adults are abundant and bite readily outdoors at all hours of the day. It is not

uncommon for them to enter homes to feed on humans. Certain species are medically important in

the transmission of yellow fever and dengue.

Psorophora ​(sore-offer-ah)

This genus is considered to be extremely aggressive. Most of the species are known to feed on larger

mammals, including humans, and are known to travel long distances in search of blood meals.

Species of this genus breed primarily in temporary floodwaters, such as woodland pools, roadside

ditches, and pastures. Some of the largest species of mosquitoes in Florida come from this genus.

Psorophora​ are not known to be vectors of any common diseases in Florida. They are primarily

active in early evening but are known to bite during the day in shady areas.
 Uranotaenia​ (your-an-ah-tay-nee-ah)

Species of this genus are most commonly found in ground pools, swamps, and grassy edges of lakes.

They feed primarily on reptiles and amphibians, and are not known to bite humans. They are readily

caught in light traps. Adults of this genus are unlikely to be of medical importance.

Wyeomyia ​(why-oh-my-yah)

This genus is closely associated with bromeliads and pitcher plants. The adults lay their eggs in the

bromeliads, where the larvae develop. Adults are not known to travel far from the bromeliad

habitats. They are not a common vector, nor are they an aggressive species.
The Other Three Genera

Orthopodomyia (​ortho-poh-doh-my-yah)

Members of this species breed almost exclusively in tree holes or rot cavities,

occasionally in artificial containers. Adults inhabit forests and appear to be active only

after dark. The feeding habits of females are largely unknown, but birds appear to be the

primary hosts. None of the species of ​Orthopodomyia​ are of medical or economic

importance to humans.

Deinocerites​ (die-no-sir-i-tees)

Known as the “crab hole” mosquito, members of this species use the upper portions of

land crab burrows as daytime resting sites as well as larval development sites. They

seldom annoy humans with their blood feeding activity, and Florida’s crab hole

mosquito has not been implicated in the transmission of any human pathogen.
 Toxorhynchites​ (tox-o-rine-ky-tees)

Members of this species breed primarily in tree holes or artificial containers. Unlike all

other mosquitoes, the female ​does not​ take a blood meal for egg production. The long,

curved proboscis is for nectar feeding only. Therefore, they are not a nuisance or have

any medical impacts on human populations; however, in the larval stage, they are

known to be predacious on other mosquito and aquatic insect larvae.

 PROJECT BUDGET & REQUIREMENTS

(approximate pricing)

Tank = 1400 Rs

Table Lamp = 1200 Rs

Microscope = NIL

Test Tubes= NIL

Droppers = 200 Rs

Mesh = 800 Rs

Total price = 3600