Mosquito Habitats
Mosquitoes prefer shallow, stagnant water within which to lay their eggs. They most commonly infest ponds, marshes, swamps and other wetland habitats. However, they are capable of thriving in a variety of locations and can successfully grow in numbers even when not in their natural habitat. Many species of mosquitoes use containers of water as egg-deposit sites.
Illustration of a Mosquito
Hot, humid environments are most amenable to mosquito growth and survival. Infestations can occur easily in tropical areas. Some species have also been known to inhabit freezing locations such as the Arctic Circle.
Mosquito larvae can be found in various habitats, including running streams, where larvae attach themselves to vegetation in order to avoid being swept away by water currents. Some larvae are active in transient waters such as floodwater, ditches and woodland pools. The Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta, Coquillettidia and Uranotaenia species breed in permanent bodies of water and can survive in polluted water as well as freshwater, acid water and brackish water swamps. Other mosquito larvae may be present in container water sources such as puddles upon leaves and stagnant water within small pools.
Mosquito Allergies and Reactions