Mosquitoes have four distinctive life stages, with the first three stages being spent in the water. An adult female lays about 100-400 eggs in clusters called rafts, which float on the surface of the water, or singly on the surface of the water or the waters edge depending on the species of mosquito. Within 2-3 days the eggs hatch into larvae.

The larvae come to the surface to breathe through a tube called a siphon and feed on small organic particles and microorganisms in the water. Larvae are found in a wide variety of standing water sources including creeks, fish ponds, abandoned swimming pool, stagnant and polluted waters, log ponds, snow pools, brackish water, horse troughs, artificial containers, and even discarded car tires. It sheds its skin or molts four times during the next several days or weeks. On the fourth molt it changes into a pupa.

The pupa cannot eat. It breathes through two tubes on its back. The adult mosquito grows inside the pupa and in several days, when it is fully developed, it splits the pupal skin and emerges to complete the life cycle of the mosquito. The newly emerged adult mosquito rests on the surface of the water until it is strong enough to fly away and feed.

• All mosquitoes must have water to complete their life cycle.
• Mosquitoes do not develop in grass or shrubbery, although adults frequently rest in these areas during daylight hours.
• Only the female mosquito bites to obtain a blood meal. The male mosquito feeds only on plant juices.
• The female mosquito may live as long as three weeks during the summer or several months over the winter in order to lay her eggs in the following spring.