A mosquito is a small flying insect that belongs to the family Culicidae, which comprises approximately 3,600 species. The word "mosquito" is Spanish for "little fly". Mosquitoes have a slender segmented body, one pair of wings, one pair of halteres, three pairs of long hair-like legs, and elongated mouthparts. Female mosquitoes have a proboscis that pierces the skin of a person or animal and sucks out blood, while the males proboscis is not strong enough to pierce the skin. Both female and male mosquitoes use the proboscis to feed on flower nectar and fruit juices. Mosquitoes can be found worldwide, and over 3,700 types of mosquitoes have been identified.

Some key facts about mosquitoes include:

• Mosquitoes are vectors, which are animals, insects, or ticks that spread pathogens (germs) to people and animals.
• Mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue virus, Zika, West Nile virus, encephalitis, and filariasis.
• Mosquitoes have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
• Different species of mosquitoes prefer different types of standing water in which to lay their eggs.
• Mosquitoes are active from dusk until dawn, but many other mosquito species are known as day feeders and are active during the day, especially around the dusk and dawn timeframes.

To manage a mosquito infestation, homeowners should consult trained experts and get information about repellents.