What do larvae look like

Mosquito larvae molt four times during this stage, growing larger after each molt. When the mosquito larva molts the fourth time, it becomes a pupa.

Pupae, called "tumblers," float near the water's surface. They dive and swim in a tumbling action in response to light changes. Mosquito pupae don't eat or molt.

They breathe air and change inside their casing cocoon into adult mosquito form. Pupae live in the water for one to four days, depending on the species and water temperature. After it emerges from the pupal casing, the adult mosquito rests on the water's surface until its body and wings dry and harden.

At that time the adult mosquito can fly. Adult mosquitoes live for only a few weeks. Though a mosquito's life cycle is brief, it can cause a lot of damage in that time, inflicting painful bites and potentially spreading diseases.

Summer is a great time for picnics, swimming, hiking and other outdoor activities. But you're not the only one enjoying the sunny weather. Summer bugs and insects are having a good time, too, and when they bite or sting, it can put a damper on the fun. The tiny white larvae eat holes through susceptible materials and damaged fabrics sometimes have silken cases or threads on their surface. Clothes moth larvae preferentially feed on natural products such as cotton, silk, wool, feathers, fur, hair, leather and upholstered furniture.

Larvae will also feed on lint, dust and paper products. They can feed on mixtures of natural and synthetic fibres, but cannot feed on materials made only from synthetic fibres.

In nature, clothes moths infest pollen, hair, dead insects and dried animal remains. Common clothes moths include the webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella , and the case-making clothes moth, Tinea pellionella. The webbing clothes moth larvae are small white grubs and are rarely seen. Case-making clothes moth larvae spin a silken tube or 'case' for protection and they drag this along as they feed. They are often noticed when attached to walls or draging themselves across smooth floor surfaces.

The adults are small 1cm , buff or straw-coloured moths with fringed wings. They are reluctant flyers and may be seen running over the surface of infested materials.

Unlike many other moths, clothes moths are not attracted to light and avoid lighted areas. Carpet beetle larvae can damage fabrics, furnishings and clothing that contain cotton, wool, silk, hair, fur or feathers. Synthetic items are resistant to attack, but blends of synthetic and natural fibres can be damaged.

Their natural habitats are the nests of birds, rodents, insects, and spiders. Adult beetles are pollen feeders and can be found in large numbers in flowers. They can be inadvertently brought into the house in cut flowers and laundry, and are capable of flight. Several species of carpet beetles occur in Western Australian homes, such as Anthrenus and Anthrenocerus species, and their biology and the damage caused are similar.

In most cases it is the European carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci which rather than the native Australian carpet beetle, Anthrenocerus species there are over 40 different species belong to this genus. The adult beetle is a rounded insect about 4mm long, dark grey with distinct wavy white bands across the body.

Indoors, adults are attracted to light and are often found on window sills. The larvae are roughly 4—5mm in length, elongate and covered in hairs, with dense stiff bristles extending from the rear.

The larvae avoid light and actively feed in dark places like ceiling voids, crevices and folds, and can be found in wardrobes or within upholstered furniture. Caterpillars Order Lepidoptera are immature stages of butterflies and moths; they have 5 or fewer pairs Box 1.

These plant feeders have chewing mouthparts. Larvae with pairs of fleshy legs on all abdominal segments Box 2 are called sawflies Order Hymenoptera.

They often occur in groups on deciduous trees or evergreens. Larvae with segmented thoracic legs but no fleshy prolegs Larval types with segmented thoracic legs but no fleshy abdominal legs are shown in Boxes 3 and 4.

These types are found in many species of beetles Coleoptera and some lacewings Neuroptera The decision at this point is more subjective. Larvae with relatively long thoracic legs and a relatively streamlined, often pointed bodies are shown in Box 3.

These predators are active crawlers that hunt prey. Usually, they have a relatively flat heads and prominent forward-pointing jaws. Examples are a lacewing, b lady beetle, and c ground beetle.

Larvae in Box 4 have shorter, thicker thoracic legs, a more box-shaped head, and wider abdomen. They can crawl but tend to be slow and deliberate.

Soft, white bodied forms, like the white grub and rootworm, live in protected places while leaf feeders and scavengers tend to have harder, more protected bodies. White grubs a often occur in soil, decaying organic matter, rotting logs, etc. Wireworms b have hard, cylindrical, bodies. Many species live in soil feeding on seeds or roots or in decaying wood. Rootworm larvae c live in the soil and feed on plant roots.

Leaf beetle larvae d , like that of the Colorado potato beetle, resemble caterpillars without fleshy abdominal legs. They feed exposed on foliage. Hairy carpet beetle larva e are scavengers that feed on plant and animal products. They may be found in stored products or natural fibers, such as cotton or wool. These are highly specialized larvae; most live in water, soil, wood, or in decaying organic matter.

Some species have distinct, usually dark heads while others do not. Legless larvae with distinct heads Most of these larvae are beetles or flies Diptera.