Adult mosquitoes are slender, long-legged two winged insects. They undergo complete metamorphosis with 4 successive stages of development; eggs, larva, pupa and adult mosquitoes. The first 3 stages are aquatic while the adult is an active flying insect. Depending on the species of mosquito and environmental conditions such as temperature, light & food present, the whole development from egg to adult takes around 7-14 days.

"Under optimal conditions, the egg of an Aedes mosquito can hatch into a larva in less than a day. The larva then takes about four days to develop into a pupa, from which an adult mosquito will emerge after two days. Three days after the mosquito has bitten a person and taken in blood, it will lay eggs, and the cycle repeats." (Source: https://www.nea.gov.sg/dengue-zika/prevent-aedes-mosquito-breeding/aedes-mosquito).

​The female mosquito have a long proboscis (mouthparts) for piercing and sucking blood while the proboscis of the male ones are not suitable for piercing as they feed on nectar or other plant juices. Female mosquitos (in most species) are anautogenous, meaning a blood meal is required for them to lay fertile eggs. They are attracted to their hosts by temperature, odour from sweat, carbon dioxide, moisture and skin colour (dark prefer to light), etc.

​In Singapore, the three main mosquitoes are:

1) Aedes Mosquitoes
2) Anopheles mosquito
3)Culex mosquito

In general, mosquitos like to rest in cool, dark & humid places. Depending on the species, they rest either by day (Culex & Anopheles mosquitoes) or night (Aedes mosquitoes). Because of the numerous diseases they transmit such as Dengue fever, Malaria, Cikungnya, Filariasis, etc, an integrated approach involving all stakeholders are require to prevent disease transmission.