mossies

Mossies is a colloquial term for mosquitoes, small flying insects in the family Culicidae. The term is used in several English-speaking regions, including Australia and parts of Africa, and is largely synonymous with mosquito or mozzie. Mossies are pests and, in many species, important disease vectors, though they also occupy ecological roles such as pollination for some plants.

Adult mossies are slender with long legs and a long proboscis, typically measuring about 3–6 millimeters in length. Only females bite and require a blood meal to develop eggs, while males feed mainly on nectar. The life cycle includes aquatic stages: eggs laid on or near water, larvae (wigglers) that live in water, pupae (tumblers), and adults that emerge to mate and feed.

Breeding occurs in standing or slow-moving water found in natural and artificial containers, including ponds, vegetation clumps, tires, and clogged gutters. Activity and biting times vary by species; some mossies bite at dawn and dusk, others at night or during the day. They are found worldwide, with higher activity in warm, humid environments.

Disease risk varies by species and region. Some mosquitoes transmit pathogens that cause malaria, dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and other illnesses. Because of this, mosquito control and personal protection are important public health measures in many areas. Prevention methods include eliminating standing water, using insect repellents, installing window and door screens, and employing larvicides or insecticides where appropriate.

In common usage, mossies and mozzies refer to the same insects, reflecting regional naming preferences rather than distinct groups.