What insect's aquatic larvae are commonly called wrigglers?

The aquatic larvae of mosquitoes are commonly called wrigglers. They live in stagnant or slow-moving water, rising repeatedly to the surface to breathe through siphon-like structures at the rear of the body.

Mosquitoes begin life as eggs laid on or near water. After hatching, the wrigglers feed on microorganisms and organic particles, then molt several times before becoming comma-shaped pupae, often called tumblers. Adult mosquitoes emerge from the pupal skin at the water’s surface.

A common mix-up is confusing mosquito larvae with aquatic larvae of dragonflies, damselflies, or mayflies. Those insects have very different body shapes and feeding habits. Mosquito wrigglers are also not miniature adult mosquitoes: they have no wings and spend their entire larval stage in water.

Because standing water supports their development, containers, gutters, plant saucers, and discarded tires can become breeding sites. Removing small pools of water is one of the simplest ways to reduce local mosquito populations.