Mosquito fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are small flying insects in the fly order, Diptera. Like other true flies, they have one pair of wings and a second pair of tiny balancing organs called halteres. Mosquitoes are found throughout Australia and are common around wetlands, creeks, ponds, gardens and backyards where water collects.

A mosquito.

A close-up of a Culex mosquito showing its compound eye, antenna and proboscis.

Where do mosquitoes live?

Mosquitoes live in many places, but they need water for the early stages of their life cycle. Female mosquitoes lay eggs on or near water. The larvae, often called wrigglers, live in water and come to the surface to breathe.

Around Sydney, mosquitoes may breed in natural habitats such as wetlands, creek edges, tree holes and rock pools. They can also breed in small backyard water sources, including buckets, tyres, plant saucers, bird baths, pet bowls, water features, blocked drains and roof gutters. NSW Health recommends checking and removing water-holding containers at least once a week.

Mosquitoes depend on slow-moving water for the early stages of their life cycle.

What do mosquitoes eat?

Adult mosquitoes use plant sugars for energy. Males feed on nectar and other plant fluids. Females also feed on nectar, but females of many mosquito species drink blood when they need extra nutrients to develop eggs.

Mosquitoes do not eat blood in the same way a predator eats prey. A female mosquito uses her proboscis to pierce skin and draw a small amount of blood. This can make people and animals itchy, and some mosquitoes can spread disease-causing viruses.

Adult mosquitoes feed on plant sugars such as nectar.

What is the life cycle of a mosquito?

Mosquitoes have four main life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. This is called complete metamorphosis.

A female mosquito lays eggs on or near water. Some mosquitoes lay eggs in floating rafts. When the eggs hatch, the larvae live in the water. Mosquito larvae are often called wrigglers because they move with a wriggling motion. They feed on tiny particles in the water and come to the surface to breathe through a siphon.

After growing and moulting, the larva becomes a pupa. A mosquito pupa is sometimes called a tumbler because it can move quickly through the water. The adult mosquito later emerges from the pupa at the water surface.

Some mosquitoes lay eggs together in floating rafts on the surface of water.

Mosquito larvae, often called wrigglers, hang below the water surface to breathe.

A mosquito pupa lives in water before the adult mosquito emerges.

What adaptations do mosquitoes have to help them survive?

Mosquitoes have several adaptations that help them find food, avoid danger and reproduce. Their light bodies and narrow wings help them fly. Their long legs allow them to land gently on surfaces, including water, plants and animals.

Mosquito antennae help them detect smells, moisture and other signals in the environment. Female mosquitoes can detect cues from animals, including body heat and carbon dioxide. Their proboscis is adapted for feeding on liquids. Larvae have breathing structures that allow them to take in air while living in water.

Female mosquitoes use a proboscis to pierce skin and draw blood.

Why are mosquitoes important?

Mosquitoes can be annoying, but they are part of food webs. Mosquito larvae are eaten by aquatic predators such as fish, tadpoles, dragonfly nymphs and other aquatic insects. Adult mosquitoes are eaten by animals such as spiders, dragonflies, bats, birds and frogs.

Adult mosquitoes also visit flowers for nectar. As they move between flowers, they may carry pollen. Scientists still debate how important mosquitoes are as pollinators overall, but nectar feeding connects them to plant life as well as animal food webs.

Mosquitoes are food for many Australian animals.

Common mosquitoes around Sydney and NSW

There are many mosquito species in Australia. CSIRO lists the Australian backyard mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus, the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, and the common banded mosquito, Culex annulirostris, as common Australian species.

The Australian backyard mosquito is common around homes because it can use small water-holding containers. The southern house mosquito is often linked with urban and suburban water sources. The common banded mosquito is widespread in Australia and is often associated with freshwater habitats.

The Australian backyard mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus, is one of Australia’s common mosquito species.

How can you help reduce mosquitoes?

You can help reduce mosquitoes by removing places where they breed. Empty and wipe out bird baths, pet bowls and water features. Tip out buckets, toys and plant saucers. Store containers undercover, keep bins covered, clear gutters and make sure drains flow freely. NSW Health recommends doing this at least once a week.

You can also protect natural mosquito predators by caring for healthy wetlands, ponds and creek habitats. Avoid unnecessary pesticide use, as pesticides can harm beneficial insects, spiders and other animals that are part of the food web.

A bucket holding stagnant water can become a mosquito breeding site.

Related fact sheets

More invertebrate fact sheets

• Invertebrate fact sheets – explore more animals without backbones that live in bushland, soil, leaf litter and water.
• Insects fact sheet – learn about the body parts and life cycles of insects.
• Fly fact sheet – mosquitoes are true flies in the order Diptera.
• Dragonfly fact sheet – dragonflies are predators that may eat mosquitoes.
• Damselfly fact sheet – damselflies live near water and may feed on small flying insects.

Habitats and ecosystems

• Water habitats fact sheet – explores ponds, creeks and wetlands as habitats.

• Ground cover habitats fact sheet – explains low vegetation and damp places used by many small animals.

• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – learn about the reserve habitats that support many invertebrates.

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