Hi Abdul, for larvae:

Anopheles are the easiest to identify. They don't have a siphon and stay paralell to the water surface.

Aedes and Culex are very similar, however. But looking at the siphon you'll notice that the ones from Culex are longer and have a lighter color; their body is also "hairy" compared to Aedes. Using a microscope, look at the morphology of the combs, they are very different.

For adults:

Now Aedes mosquitoes are the easiest to identify. They are black and have white patches.

Culex and Anopheles are yellow-ish, but you can identify them by observing their resting position. Anopheles mosquitoes have a ~45 degree angle, while Culex stay parallel to the surface. Microscopically, look for antena morphology.

To identify instars, just look at the size and the color of the larvae. First instar larvae are very small, with light gray color, while 4th instar larvae are very dark, and you can see their hair very clearly. Microscopically, look at the saddle, it gets bigger and darker with the instar, covering the anal segment almost entirely. 

After some time working with them you'll differentiate all the instars easily, it's just a matter of practice. :)

Hi Abdul, for larvae:

Anopheles are the easiest to identify. They don't have a siphon and stay paralell to the water surface.

Aedes and Culex are very similar, however. But looking at the siphon you'll notice that the ones from Culex are longer and have a lighter color; their body is also "hairy" compared to Aedes. Using a microscope, look at the morphology of the combs, they are very different.

For adults:

Now Aedes mosquitoes are the easiest to identify. They are black and have white patches.

Culex and Anopheles are yellow-ish, but you can identify them by observing their resting position. Anopheles mosquitoes have a ~45 degree angle, while Culex stay parallel to the surface. Microscopically, look for antena morphology.

To identify instars, just look at the size and the color of the larvae. First instar larvae are very small, with light gray color, while 4th instar larvae are very dark, and you can see their hair very clearly. Microscopically, look at the saddle, it gets bigger and darker with the instar, covering the anal segment almost entirely. 

After some time working with them you'll differentiate all the instars easily, it's just a matter of practice. :)

Certainly  I agree  with the comment  of Terezinha  Souza. I would like add that you  just use stereoscopic  binocular  microscope and get  all details. 

@Ramesh I don't think we have a stereotypic microscope. Will anyways try, Sir. Thank you

I appreciate Terezinha's comments just would like to add something about its movement. Larvae of Aedes are bottom dwellers and perform a wriggling 'S' shaped movement. They prefer to stay in dark and when disturbed prefer to go deeper. As far as color is concerned of Culex larvae, it varies on its ecology but Aedes are black as she told. Good luck!! 

Larvae of Anopheles, Aedes and Culex are identified by Siphon condition and abdomen posture condition on genus level but species level, you concerned literature and collect the procedure. 

Taxonomy of some Anopheles mosquito by BN, Nagapal published by national institute of malaria research, Delhi, India

Yes Terezinha Souza explanation will definitely be of help but the resting position could only be noticed when alive. Furthermore, you can check for the markings on the wings to separate the culex from the anopheles the later has dark and light markings.

At the level of research, I'm not sure you can go far without citing good authority/authorities on this. You may wish to search for pictorial reference materials online; at best purchase (if you can) the original authorities -

Gillett (1972) , Gillies and Coetzee (1987) which are available online at Amazon.com. 

All answers are good as Terezinha Souza said "After some time working with them you'll differentiate all the instars easily, it's just a matter of practice. " 

Go through my two paper one on Aedes    and Anophlese sps of  Western Saudi Arabia

Dear Azeez...all above tips hold good for identification at genus level i.e larvae of genus anopheles, culex or aedes but I wonder whether you need only this much or you wish to go for species level identification. Species level identification based on larvae is not as that simple and straight forward as seems with above account. But yes they are by and large ok for genus identification and broad classification... so be sure what do you exactly want

All good answers - but the species of each genus differ from place to place so you need to search for a mosquito KEY that is specific to your area to be able to identify your mosquitoes

@Anil Prakash Sir,

It is enough for me to identify genus of mosquitoes and larvae for my project. But I am interested in learning more on this. So, if you can guide me regarding how can I identify species level, I will be glad :) 

Thank You

You can find more details in http://14.139.64.112/catalog 

Well Azeez,

For the Identification of Spcies of Mosquitoes, Please see the structure of antenna and genetalia along with larval characters like siphon , posture, and hair on the  head.

It is simple. I suggest you to visit ICMR website where you can download a PDF containing key to identify mosquito species and else.

All information much infornatics but young scientist needs some more clear vission

@ Abdul Azeez

By and large adults mosquito species of various Anopheles, Culex and Aedes genera (which are really medically important) mosquito can be identified using an identification key. However, as rightly pointed out by Canyon there are always local variations in the morphological characters.. hence it is always prudent to follow a regional identification key. For example for India I would recommend keys of Bina Pani Das for adult Anopheles. You need to check whether keys for your region are available or not.

for proper mosquitoes identification, you must have the right key , pictorial or analytical key it is more appropriate to use regional keys with a little experience.

Dear Abdul Azeez ,

The book by Mike Service may be useful for this purpose. Please try it.

Onésime Mubenga Kankonda Thank you, Sir

Here is a helpful pictorial key for mosquitoes in the US and Alaska from the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/docs/pictorial_keys/mosquitoes.pdf

There is a new book publishing from Johns Hopkins called Mosquitoes of the World with exhaustive full-page photos and up-close drawings of key ID characteristics for 128 of the most medically important species cross the globe, including the Anopheles and Culex and Aedes, of course. Authors are Strickland, Linton and Wilkerson. it took them 7 years to gather all this information, including a lot from the Smithsonian archives. It will be available next fall. I will try to remember to come back here and announce when it comes out. For full disclosure, I am the editor.

Tiffany Gasbarrini Thank you so much. That will be great.

Tiffany Gasbarrini, I'm looking forward to the publication. Thank you.

@Tiffany I am eagerly waiting for the new document. Great news

Tiffany, keep me abreast of the release of this book. Thank you.

For those who requested to be kept in the loop, the publication date was pushed to the end of the year due to COVID-related supply-chain delays, but production is completed, and you can pre-order. I hope it will prove helpful.

https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/mosquitoes-world

I just wanted to note here that Mosquitoes of the World is now available via all major merchants, as well as direct via our website. It does not appear that Amazon is discounting the book at this time, but you might check our site at https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/mosquitoes-world as we do have periodic promotions. I understand there will be a discount available celebrating Earth Day next month. Happy identifying!