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Mosquito Life Cycle

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Mosquito Life Cycle

Read the field notes, then solve the questions about how mosquitoes change as they grow. Use evidence from the notes in your answers.

Field notes for the class newspaper

Zoe and Manaia are writing a class newspaper report after finding mosquito larvae in a water-filled container near a walking track. Their science notes say: Female mosquitoes lay eggs beside or on the surface of pools where the water is not moving. When eggs hatch, larvae live in the water and feed as they grow. Larvae shed their outer covering several times. Next, each larva changes into a pupa. The pupa stays in water and does not feed, but it can move. An adult mosquito emerges from the pupa and flies away. Adult females may later lay eggs, beginning the cycle again. The time taken depends on conditions such as temperature and the amount of food available.

Investigate the cycle

1.Zoe’s notes list these stages: pupa, adult, egg, larva. Which order correctly shows the mosquito life cycle?

Egg → larva → pupa → adult
Egg → pupa → adult → larva
Larva → egg → adult → pupa
Adult → pupa → larva → egg

2.According to the notes, where are mosquito eggs laid?

3.Finn sees a wriggling young mosquito feeding in water. Which life-cycle stage is Finn observing?

Egg
Larva
Pupa
Adult

4.Manaia writes that a mosquito pupa is a completely motionless stage that feeds on food in the water. Identify the two errors in Manaia’s statement and correct them.

5.Match each stage to its description.

Egg
Larva
Pupa
Adult

Lives in water, feeds and grows
Flies; female may lay eggs
Laid on or near still water; hatches into a larva
Does not feed; adult emerges from it

6.A newspaper draft says, “The mosquito life cycle ends when an adult emerges.” Use the notes to explain why this is inaccurate.

7.The notes say development time depends on conditions. Name one condition mentioned and explain how it could affect the time taken, without claiming that the notes give an exact number of days.

8.For the newspaper report, write a two-sentence caption that describes how a mosquito changes from larva to adult. Include where these stages happen.

9.Imagine someone finds a container holding still water near a walking track. Based on the life cycle, suggest one practical action that could reduce the chance of mosquitoes developing there, and explain why it may help.