My pet Mosquitos

[Stagecoach]

These little guys are Wolbachia carrying mosquito's I'm breeding and are presently in the larvae stage, hanging from the water surface and breathing through an air siphon at the rear end. They are approx 4mm long.

I did not have any intention of capturing them underwater but am presently playing with lighting to attempt some shots later when the adults emerge. At that time I'll have a hole cut in the side of the container.

[Manfred M]

I assume the streaks are scratches on the container? Definitely an interesting image and not one I would expect to see all that often.

I wonder if it is time for a new hobby? Breeding mosquitoes is definitely one of the stranger ones I've read about. If it were me, I'd be busy putting a larvaecide in the water...

[Stagecoach]

The inside of the clear plastic container was scratched up to give them somewhere to grip when they are drying off.

These little guys carry Wolbachia and are part of a Worldwide programme to eliminate the mosquitoes that spread dangerous diseases. They go off and mate with our local variety and the offspring carry Wolbachia and no longer spread dengue fever, chikungunya and zika. But the safe ones will still bite

I suspect it won't be long now before they start flying and I'm told to get those b****y things off the kitchen worktop and outside as I've been arguing against for the past week

[Ken MT]

Most interesting photo. See attached reference for Wolbachia
http://www.eliminatedengue.com/our-research/wolbachia

[Rufus]

Most interesting photo. See attached reference for Wolbachia
http://www.eliminatedengue.com/our-research/wolbachia

An interesting article. Thanks for providing the link.