Mosquito

Found worldwide, particularly near stagnant water, marshlands, and urban areas with open water containers.

Adult males and females feed on nectar and plant juices for energy. Females also consume blood from vertebrates to obtain proteins required for egg production.

Crepuscular or nocturnal activity for most species. Life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages; larvae are aquatic ('wrigglers'). They use carbon dioxide and heat to locate hosts.

Significant risk as primary vectors for diseases such as Malaria, Dengue fever, Zika virus, and West Nile virus. Ecologically, they serve as a food source for fish, birds, and bats, and some species act as pollinators.