Which of the following correctly describes the eggs of Anopheles mosquitoes?

• A Laid in rafts on the water surface, oval and brown
• B Laid singly on the undersurface of floating vegetation
• C Deposited in dry soil and require flooding before hatching
• D Laid singly on water, each equipped with lateral air floats ✓

Explanation

Anopheles eggs are laid singly on the water surface and possess lateral air floats that keep them afloat; this is a standard identification point. Culex lays its eggs in boat-shaped rafts, which makes option A the classic distractor. Option B describes Mansonia-type oviposition on vegetation, while option C describes Aedes behaviour, since Aedes eggs are laid on damp surfaces above the waterline and hatch after flooding.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 26th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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