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About Mosquito
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The mosquito is a common flying insect that is found around the world. There are about 2,800 different species of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can fly about 1 to 1.5 miles per hour (1,6-2,4 km/hour).
The mosquito females drink blood and the nectar of plants; the males only sip plant nectar. When a female bites, she also injects an anticoagulant (anti-clotting chemical) into the prey to keep the victim's blood flowing. She finds her victims by sight and smell, and also by detecting their warmth. Not all mosquito species bite humans.
The mosquito is often a carrier of diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis, yellow fever, West Nile virus, dog heartworm, and many others. The females, who drink blood, can carry disease from one animal or human to another as they feed.
In fact, worldwide, mosquitoes transmit disease to more
than 700,000,000 people annually, and will be
responsible for the deaths of 1 out of every 17 people
currently alive. According to
reports from the World Health Organization, malaria causes
as many as 3,000,000 deaths annually, and 2.5 billion people
around the world are at risk from Dengue fever. Each year,
there are tens of millions of cases, and up to 95% are
children. |
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Like all insects, the mosquito has
a body divided into three parts (head, thorax,
and abdomen), a hard exoskeleton, and six long,
jointed legs. Mosquitoes also have a pair of
veined wings. They have a straw-like proboscis
and can only eat liquids.
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| Mosquitos go through four distinct stages of
development during a lifetime, they undergo a complete
metamorphosis; The four stages are egg, pupa, larva, and
adult. The full life-cycle of a mosquito takes about a
month. After drinking blood, adult females lay a raft of 50
to 400 tiny white eggs in standing water or very slow-moving
water. |
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Within a week, the eggs hatch into larvae (sometimes
called "wrigglers") that breathe air through tubes which
they poke above the surface of the water. Larvae eat bits of
floating organic matter and each other. Larvae molt four
times as they grow; after the fourth molt, they are called
"pupae".
Pupae (also called "tumblers") also live near the surface of
the water, breathing through two horn-like tubes (called
siphons) on their back. Pupae don't eat. |
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An adult mosquito emerges from a pupa when the skin
splits after a couple of days. The adult lives for a few
weeks.
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Mosquito Facts:
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- Only the female bites to obtain a blood meal and
that the male feeds on plant juices.
- Female mosquitos may live as long as three weeks
during the summer and many months in the winter.
- All mosquitoes must have water in which to complete
their life cycle.
- Mosquitoes can fly about 1 to 1.5 miles per hour
(1,6-2,4 km/hour).
- There are about 2,800 different species of
mosquitoes.
- Most mosquitoes remain within 1 mile of their breeding
site. A few species may range up to 20 miles or more.
- There are over 150 described species of mosquitoes
from North America. Several species have been
accidentally introduced from other parts of the world.
- Presently, the cues used by mosquitoes to find their
hosts are poorly understood. Carbon dioxide (CO2), heat,
octenol and light have been shown to be attractants.
Other compounds tested such as lactic acid also have
proved to attract certain species of biting insects.
- Mosquito is Spanish for "little fly".
- To Humans and domestic animals, mosquitoes are a
nuisance and a health hazard since mosquitoes can
transmit a variety of diseases.
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More Links: |
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Learn About Solar Mosquito Killer Lamp |
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