True or False: Mosquitoes have a complete life cycle consisting of egg, nymph, and adult stages.

The correct answer is that mosquitoes do not undergo a life cycle that consists of an egg, nymph, and adult stages. Instead, mosquitoes have a complete metamorphosis that includes four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

In their life cycle, adult female mosquitoes lay eggs in water, which hatch into larvae. These larvae are aquatic and breathe through siphons. After growing through several instars, larvae undergo a transformation into pupae, which are also aquatic but do not feed. Eventually, the pupae emerge as adult mosquitoes. This cycle is typical of many insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, but it is important to highlight that the correct stages are larva and pupa, not nymph, which is a term generally associated with incomplete metamorphosis seen in insects like grasshoppers or cockroaches. Understanding these life stages is crucial for effective mosquito control strategies and public health initiatives.