The period of aquatic development varies with temperature. The higher the temperature the shorter the development time. The organ used for breathing is the siphon, which is a tube at the anterior end of the larva. Two genera, the Mansonia and the Coquillettidia have specially modified siphons which they use to penetrate the roots and stems of water plants drawing oxygen from the plants, removing the requirement to come to the surface to breathe. Feeding Larvae use their mouth brushes to set up a current of water, which carries food particles to the mouth.
Several groups are predators on other mosquito larvae.
They have specially modified heavily chitinized mouthparts, which allow them to seize other mosquito larvae and to eat them. Aedes alternans is one such species frequently found in association with Aedes vigilax. When collecting larvae for study, care must be taken to see that predacious larvae are removed from the collection or when you come to examine the insects in the laboratory you may find one large predacious larva and the remains of the rest of your collection. Distribution Larvae are not evenly distributed in the breeding site, tending to concentrate in areas where they will gain most shelter from predators. Shallow pool fringes, particularly if grassy, provide protection from predators.