Females also feed on blood which is needed to produce eggs. Some species can produce eggs without a blood meal. Males do not feed on blood. Habitat Larvae and pupae live in water, usually still water. They do not survive well in rushing streams or badly polluted water.
Adults hide in vegetation near water or in cool, damp places.
Many species fly in search of blood meals in the evening. Predators Many fish and predatory aquatic insects eat larvae and pupae. Bats, birds and spiders eat flying adults. Interesting Behaviors Watching the feeding behavior of larvae is instructive. Larvae are such effective filter feeders that they can clean polluted water.