Why is a mosquito larva called a wriggler or wiggler?

• A. Because it moves jerkily around in the water by snapping the rear half of its body from side to side.
• B. It floats on the water surface without moving.
• C. It feeds on detritus.
• D. It burrows into the mud.

Answer: (A)

The name wriggler comes from the way a mosquito larva moves in water. It doesn’t just drift; it makes quick, jerky bends, snapping the rear half of its body from side to side to propel itself. That distinctive wriggling motion is what earns it the name. It typically stays just under the water surface feeding on tiny microorganisms, which fits with this active, side-to-side propulsion. The other descriptions don’t capture why the term is used—the larva isn’t simply floating motionlessly, not primarily detritus-feeding, and it doesn’t burrow in mud.