Which water type would be least suitable for mosquito larvae?

Which water type would be least suitable for mosquito larvae?

• A. Flowing water
• B. Still water
• C. Polluted water in ponds
• D. Flooded fields

Answer: (A)

Mosquito larvae develop best in relatively still water. The calm environment lets them stay in place, anchor to vegetation or the bottom, and feed on microscopic organisms. Flowing water, with its current, disrupts this setup: it can wash eggs and larvae downstream, prevent them from staying at the surface to breathe, and make it hard for them to feed. Polluted ponds and flooded fields still provide still water with nutrients that many species can use to grow, so they’re more suitable than fast-flowing water. That’s why flowing water is the least suitable for mosquito larvae.

Mosquito larvae develop best in relatively still water. The calm environment lets them stay in place, anchor to vegetation or the bottom, and feed on microscopic organisms. Flowing water, with its current, disrupts this setup: it can wash eggs and larvae downstream, prevent them from staying at the surface to breathe, and make it hard for them to feed. Polluted ponds and flooded fields still provide still water with nutrients that many species can use to grow, so they’re more suitable than fast-flowing water. That’s why flowing water is the least suitable for mosquito larvae.