Mosquito pupae. Macrophotograph of two pupae of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus underwater. The aquatic larvae of this mosquito pupate underwater,

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Mosquito pupae. Macrophotograph of two pupae of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus underwater. The aquatic larvae of this mosquito pupate underwater, forming a hard cuticle around themselves as they develop into the adult stage. When the adult is fully formed, it begins to swallow air through the breathing tube (dark brown, centre right and centre left) that forms part of the cuticle. This increases the pressure within the pupa, which causes the cuticle to split, allowing the adult to emerge. C. quinquefasciatus females act as vectors for arboviruses which cause disease in humans. Magnification unknown.

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Size: 4525px × 3115px
Photo credit: © SINCLAIR STAMMERS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, aquatic, arbovirus, arboviruses, culex, developing, development, disease-causing, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, macrophotograph, metamorphosing, metamorphosis, mosquito, mosquitoes, nature, pupa, pupae, pupating, quinquefasciatus, submerged, underwater, vector, vectors, wildlife, zoology