Life Cycle of Aedes Aegypti Mosquito

Aedes Aegypti is scientific name of a species of mosquito that is commonly referred to as yellow fever mosquito. They are a common transmitter of several diseases across the globe. Aedes Aegypti mosquito is small and can be easily identified by white markings that are more prominent on its legs.

This mosquito is greatly responsible for the spread of diseases such as chikungunya, yellow fever and dengue. Yellow fever mosquitoes live in habitats close to humans and frequently breed in the months of summer. It is essential to understand its life cycle for a better understanding of it.

Life cycle of Aedes Aegypti mosquito

Aedes Aegypti goes through a complete metamorphosis i.e. egg, larva, pupa and finally the adult stages.

Egg

Number of eggs produced by female Aedes Aegypti depends on the amount of the blood meal taken by her. Usually a yellow mosquito lays 100 to 200 eggs per batch.  Eggs are laid in the temporarily flooded areas like a tree hole or in man-made containers. Based on the temperature and climatic condition, the eggs hatch into larvae within two to seven days.

Larva

Unlike the larvae of other mosquitoes, Aedes Aegypti have small larva that is white to brown in colour. Their larva is also known as ‘wigglers’ as they wiggle on being disturbed. It passes through four developmental stages; the initial three stages are quick while the fourth takes three days in ideal conditions. After the fourth larva stage Aegypti enters the pupae stage but under unfavourable conditions, the larva of Aedes Aegypti can stay in water for months together.

Pupae

In this stage Aegypti is commonly referred to as ‘tumbler’ as it is located on the water surface and breathes through air tubes and trumpets as well. Pupae approximately takes two days for developing into an adult.

Adult Stage

After pupae stage the adult Aedes Aegypti ingests air for expanding their abdomen and splitting the pupal case. Finally the adult Aedes Aegypti move from the water surface to moist areas for mating and beginning the life cycle again. The life span of an adult Aedes aegypti depends on the environmental conditions and can vary from two weeks to a month.

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