Most mosquitoes that breed around the home require stagnant water rich in decomposing organic material. The female mosquito deposits 100-200 eggs on the water’s surface or in areas that will later flood. The eggs hatch into worm-like larvae, which are very active and feed on organic material in the water. Within days the larvae transform into the pupa stage, during which legs, wings, and other adult features form. When this stage is completed, the adults emerge from the pupa. The entire life cycle from egg to adult can be completed in less than 10 days. Most adults live about two weeks. One discarded tire can produce tens of thousands of mosquitoes over a season.
