growth larval growth IDOMAL:0002198 IDOMAL:0002198 MOSBP:0000237 Mosquito larvae pass through four instars. Growth is continuous throughout each instar, as can be seen in the progressive increase in size of the body regions that are covered with thin cuticle. The heavily sclerotized parts of the body, the cranium and respiratory siphon , increase in size immediately after ecdysis but this is a manifestation of earlier growth processes. Growth of the soft parts is not always isometric. idomal_namespace