The diagram illustrates the life cycle of a female mosquito, presenting in detail the stages of its development over a period of approximately eight weeks. Overall, the total lifespan of a female mosquito typically ranges from six to eight weeks.
In the first week, the female mosquito lays eggs in water. After about seven days, these eggs hatch into larvae, marking the beginning of the first larval stage. By the third week, the mosquito enters the second larval stage, during which the larva doubles its size. Each stage of larval growth is preceded by molting.
Over the next two weeks, the larva continues to grow, progressing through the third and fourth larval stages. Once this process is complete, it transforms into the pupal stage, which also takes place in water. This stage begins in the sixth week and represents the final transformation phase before reaching adulthood.
In the final stage, during weeks seven and eight, the adult female mosquito emerges. At this point, it is fully developed and capable of laying a new batch of eggs, which restarts the life cycle.