The European Mosquito (Anopheles atroparvus) is a small insect in the Culicidae family of mosquitoes.
The European Mosquito has a long, thin, dark body with six long, thin legs. It has bushy antennae and compound eyes. It has a dark-coloured proboscis (long nose) for sucking liquid.
It measures about 2 centimetres (almost an inch) long, with a wingspan of 2.5 centimetres (1 inch).
It is common and abundant across Europe, mainly in northern regions, such as France, Germany, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, but not in Italy, Greece, or Turkey.
It likes to live near still water. It is prevalent in spring and summer, but also remains active in winter, when it lives mainly inside buildings.
The European Moquito feeds on the blood of humans, birds, and livestock. It is diurnal, active during the day.
The female lays eggs near water, usually on a stagnant pool. In winter, she does not lay eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae. The larvae eat other mosquito larvae. The European Mosquito larvae form a casing called a pupal case. The adult mosquito emerges from the pupal case. The whole process is called metamorphosis (transformation).
Location of photographs: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM