Mosquito larvae hatch in water from tiny eggs and feed for several days on bacteria, pollen, and algae, filtering them from the water. As they grow, they moult three times before becoming pupae. The pupa then develops into an adult mosquito. This article, however, will focus on the mosquito egg.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito lays its eggs just above the waterline on a damp surface. While waiting for the right conditions, the embryo can survive inside the egg for up to five years.[1] This is possible due to the egg’s unusual structure.
The eggshell consists of four layers. The two outer layers, known as the exochorion and endochorion, are separated by an air gap that protects the embryo from oxygen deprivation, even when fully submerged. The exochorion, which is the outermost layer, repels water in the same way a duck’s back does.
The surface of the eggshell is also covered with a fine micro-pattern of knobs. These knobs serve a purpose: they increase the surface area of the exochorion, which is in contact with the surrounding water, and allow the egg to exchange gases with those dissolved in the water. [2] The knobs also help protect the eggshell from biofouling, thanks to their distinctive hexagonal micro-pattern.
At first, the egg has only the two outer layers mentioned earlier. The embryo inside waits for certain processes to be completed and then secretes a gelatinous serosal membrane, which becomes the third layer and completely surrounds it. [3] This membrane forms another layer containing chitin, the fourth layer, which allows excess water to leave the egg while retaining the necessary moisture. The eggshell also contains melanin, a brown pigment that reduces water loss. These two features protect the embryo from drying out and dying.
When the embryo is fully developed, it does not hatch immediately but waits until the surrounding conditions are suitable, particularly when oxygen levels in the water are low. This is important because newly hatched mosquitoes feed on bacteria and algae, which significantly reduce oxygen in the water. Low oxygen levels, therefore, indicate that there is sufficient food. The mosquitoes hatch and consume the bacteria and algae, and in doing so, help other aquatic organisms that rely on oxygen to survive.
Even a brief observation of nature reveals its complexity. The more closely we examine it, the more intricacy we find. Even creatures that seem simple, such as mosquitoes, turn out to be examples of remarkably precise and refined biological design.
By the way, we recommend reading the articles:
- Where Did Viruses Come From? The Biblical Flood and Its Consequences
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Footnotes
- Mayilsamy, M., 2019. Extremely Long Viability of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Eggs Stored Under Normal Room Condition. Journal of Medical Entomology, 56(3), pp.878–880.
- Kim, H. et al., 2020. Structural Characterization of the Micropatterned Egg Plastron in the Mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Entomological Research, 50(4), pp.189–198.
- Rezende, G.L. et al., 2008. Embryonic Desiccation Resistance in Aedes aegypti: Presumptive Role of the Chitinized Serosal Cuticle. BMC Developmental Biology, 8(1), p.82.
Based on: S. Arledge, Do we see complex design in mosquito eggs?, Acts&Facts, Institute for Creation Research, March 2021, p. 15.
© Source of main image: Canva.
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