BIOLOGY 101: Learning About Mosquitoes Through Backyard Science

Capturing a frog 

He managed to pee on Pamela's foot!

Some of the best science lessons happen unexpectedly. After a rainy morning, we discovered a toad sitting inside one of my empty flower planters, along with dozens of tiny creatures swimming in the standing water. At first we hoped they were tadpoles—but a closer look revealed something just as fascinating: mosquito larvae in several different stages of development. What started as a simple backyard discovery quickly turned into an unforgettable homeschool biology lesson.

This morning we turned our backyard into a lab. Pamela found a toad inside one of my vacant planters -- it was full of rain water. We got excited when we saw tadpoles swimming around.

Click to zoom - larvae we had collected.

Upon further inspection, we were disappointed when we realized those swimming little things were MOSQUITO LARVAE. After collecting the specimen's and transferring them to a jar, we started to get excited. We were able to spot several larvae in numerous stages of development.

I guess we had interrupted the Toad's LUNCH.

Here's some interesting facts:

ONLY a female mosquito bites (Only female mosquitoes bite because they need the protein from blood to produce eggs. Male mosquitoes feed only on nectar and other plant sugars) She lands on your skin, sticks her proboscis into you, and then sucks your blood into her abdomen. Her saliva contains proteins that prevent your blood from clotting and leave behind an itchy bump (that's always nice to know.)

Mosquitoes rely on sugar as their main source of energy. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, fruit juices and liquids that ooze from plants. The sugar is burned as fuel for flight and is replenished on a daily basis.

SO, the next time you're stung, be aware that your blood is being used for EGG PRODUCTION.

If you're planning to visit any Texas State Parks --- make a point of going inside the office. Some of these parks offer really cool educational books! (Not to mention, free Texas road maps!)

At Brazo's Bend State Park, we picked up a couple of books on identifying native insects, and Texas fishes. These books were a BARGAIN at $2.99 a book! On hindsight, I wish I had picked up a couple extra books for some friends and family. Some parks also offer free worksheets for kids and coloring books. If you're a homeschooler in Texas, a Texas State Park pass is a great way to take advantage of FIELD TRIPS.

There are many excellent videos online today showing the mosquito life cycle if you'd like to watch the complete transformation from larva to adult.

Nature Makes the Best Classroom

One of the things I love about homeschooling is that science isn't limited to textbooks. A flowerpot, a nearby creek, or even a puddle of rainwater can become an outdoor classroom full of discoveries.

Watching insects and amphibians in their natural environment helped us better understand food chains, life cycles, and the important role each creature plays in the ecosystem. Even something as annoying as a mosquito becomes fascinating when you watch its transformation from larva to adult.

These simple backyard adventures became some of our favorite science lessons—and they didn't cost a penny.

Brazos Bend State Park