The eggs then hatch into larvae, which live just under the water’s surface. They feed on microorganisms such as algae and bacteria, breathing air from above the surface. Depending on the species, larvae breathe either by using a tube (known as a siphon) or through holes in their abdomen (called spiracles). The larva pictured – of the genus Anopheles – uses spiracles, which you can see dotted along its sides.
Credit: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, courtesy of A Stich/Wellcome Images
