Pupae

Unlike other insect pupae (sing. pupa), the pupae of mosquitoes are remarkably active and suddenly swim with a tumbling motion when disturbed. The body of the pupa consists of an enlarged cephalothorax, representing the combined head and thorax, and the abdomen. The cephalothorax bears a pair of dorsolateral appendages known as trumpets. Each trumpet contains a mesothoracic spiracle. The abdomen consists of nine segments (the ninth segment is reduced and indistinct) and terminates in a pair of flattened paddles that enable the pupa to swim in a shrimp like fashion by jerking the abdomen. Despite an abundance of taxonomic characters, the pupae of most species have received little attention and are sometimes unjustly regarded as being taxonomically unimportant.