The life of a mosquito | World Mosquito Program

Scientist and creative talent, Perran Ross has created this beautiful clay animation capturing the life-cycle of an Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The animation follows – with precise detail – our hero’s journey through life. It shows how the female finds a food source for her babies beneath the human skin. Where she lays her eggs and the important role water plays in their survival. We see the transition from egg to larvae to pupae to adult mosquito and the perils faced along the way. All in under 3 minutes. (Be sure to have the sound on for extra squeamish effect.) 

A word from the creator

“As a scientist with a creative side I have always wanted to combine my research subject with an artistic pursuit. I used to make stop-motion animations as a childhood hobby, and having worked with mosquitoes for nearly a decade I thought it was a unique opportunity for me to make something that was scientifically accurate but also entertaining. 

Making videos is a great way to engage the general public with your research. Most people know that mosquitoes feed on blood and spread pathogens, but I wanted to teach people about the lesser known side of mosquitoes.

Stop-motion is a fun (but extremely time-consuming) method of animation. I started shooting early this year and only just finished editing, so it has taken a few months in total of my spare time. Over a weekend I might spend a few hours shooting 2-3 "scenes" which may add up to only a few seconds of footage.

Living with cats is also a challenge for making claymation. If you look closely at individual frames you will see hundreds of cat hairs throughout the film.” 

Perran Ross

 

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