How do mosquito larvae breathe?

Mosquito larvae breathe through respiratory openings known as spiracles, located near the tip of their abdomen. These spiracles allow them to take in oxygen directly from the water's surface while they remain submerged. This adaptation is essential for their survival, as it enables them to efficiently absorb oxygen in their aquatic environment.

Other possible breathing methods, such as gills or surfacing to gulp air, do not apply to mosquito larvae. They do not possess gills like some aquatic organisms, nor do they have the capability to gulp air like adult mosquitoes. Additionally, while diffusion across the skin is a method of gas exchange for some small organisms, mosquito larvae primarily rely on their specialized respiratory openings for effective breathing in their habitat. Understanding this respiratory process is crucial for grasping the life cycle and ecological adaptations of mosquitoes.