How many main developmental stages do mosquitoes have?

• A. Three
• B. Four
• C. Five
• D. Six

Answer: (B)

Mosquitoes go through four main life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This is an example of complete metamorphosis, where each stage looks very different from the others. Eggs are laid on or near water and hatch into aquatic larvae that feed and grow through several molts. The larval stage is followed by the pupal stage, a brief, non-feeding transition where the mosquito reorganizes its tissues to become an adult. Finally, the winged adult emerges, ready to mate and disperse; females often need a blood meal to develop eggs. Because there are four distinct life forms from egg to adult, the number of main developmental stages is four. Sub-stages within the larva (larval instars) are part of the larval stage, not separate main stages.