Understanding Mosquitoes

Quck answer

Mosquitoes are small insects that feed on the blood of animals, including humans. They are known for their ability to transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. Mosquitoes use their sense of smell to locate their prey, and their long, thin mouthparts to pierce the skin and suck blood. Female mosquitoes require blood to produce eggs, while male mosquitoes feed on nectar. Mosquitoes are attracted to certain scents, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid, which are produced by humans and animals. They are most active during dawn and dusk, and are commonly found near standing water, where they lay their eggs.

Wild Animals

Mosquitoes have been present for more than 30 million years and still cause trouble for humans. These pesky insects can leave painful and itchy welts on your skin, but that’s not the worst part. Mosquitoes can also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans through their bites. In this article, we will explore the world of mosquitoes, including their breeding habits, biting behavior, and the diseases they carry. We will also discuss ways to protect yourself from these insects.

An Up Close Look at Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes have evolved over millions of years and have developed a range of sensors that they use to track down their prey. These sensors include chemical, visual, and heat sensors. Mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide and lactic acid up to 100 feet away, making it easy for them to find warm-blooded mammals and birds. Certain chemicals in sweat also attract mosquitoes. Visual sensors help mosquitoes locate their prey by detecting movement and contrasting clothing. Heat sensors allow mosquitoes to easily find warm-blooded animals once they are close enough.

The head of a mosquito contains all of its sensors and biting apparatus, including two compound eyes, antennae, and the mouth parts used for biting. The thorax is where the wings and legs attach, and it contains the flight muscles, compound heart, nerve cell ganglia, and trachioles. The abdomen contains the digestive and excretory organs. With this perfect design, it’s no wonder mosquitoes are so good at finding and biting humans.

The parts of a mosquito

The Different Types of Mosquitoes

There are over 2,700 species of mosquitoes worldwide, with 13 mosquito genera in the United States. The majority of mosquitoes in the US belong to three genera.

The Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquitoes are the three main types of mosquitoes. Aedes mosquitoes need flooding for their eggs to hatch and have pointed abdomens. They can travel up to 75 miles from their breeding sites and bite mammals, especially humans. Anopheles mosquitoes breed in permanent fresh water and can spread malaria to humans. They also have pointed abdomens. Culex mosquitoes breed in standing water and have blunt abdomens. They prefer birds over humans and attack at dawn or after dusk. The cattail mosquito is becoming a more prevalent pest due to human invasion of their habitats. Mosquitoes hatch from eggs and go through several stages before becoming adults. Females lay their eggs in water, and the larva and pupa stages live entirely in water. The life cycle of a mosquito varies from one to several weeks. Mosquitoes are true flies and have two wings with scales and long legs. Females have a long mouth part for piercing skin. Mosquitoes lay eggs in water, and most can survive the winter and hatch in the spring.

Larva Stage of Mosquitoes

When mosquito eggs hatch, they transform into larvae or “wigglers”. These larvae filter organic material through their mouth parts and grow to about 0.5 to 0.75 inches long. They shed their skin several times during their growth and can swim and dive down from the surface when disturbed. Mosquito larvae breathe through an air tube or siphon and live anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the water temperature and the species of mosquito. Quicktime movie of free-swimming Asian tiger mosquito larvae can be seen in Mosquito Life Cycle.

Pupa Stage of Mosquitoes

After the fourth molt in the larva stage, mosquito larvae transform into pupae or “tumblers”. Pupae float at the surface and breathe through two small tubes. They do not eat but are quite active and live in the water anywhere from one to four days, depending on the water temperature and species. At the end of the pupal stage, the pupae encase themselves and turn into adult mosquitoes. Quicktime movie of free-swimming Asian tiger mosquito pupae can be seen in Mosquito Life Cycle.

Adult Mosquitoes

During the pupal case, the pupa transforms into an adult mosquito. The adult mosquito uses air pressure to break the pupal case open, crawls to a protected area, and rests while its external skeleton hardens. It then spreads its wings out to dry and can fly away to live on land. Adult mosquitoes seek a mate, mate, and then feed. Only female mosquitoes have long proboscis that they use to bite animals and humans and feed on their blood. The blood provides proteins that females need to lay eggs. After feeding, females lay their eggs, and males live only a few days after mating. The life cycle of mosquitoes varies based on species and environmental conditions.

Identifying Larvae

The larvae of different mosquito species can be distinguished. Anopheles larvae lie parallel to the water surface, and larvae of Aedes and Culex extend down into the water, with Culex air tubes longer than those of Aedes.

Mosquito Bites, Diseases, and Protection

Only female mosquitoes bite as they are attracted to infrared light, light, perspiration, body odor, lactic acid, and carbon dioxide. The female lands on the skin and sticks her proboscis, which is very sharp and thin, into the host’s skin to suck the blood. Her saliva contains anticoagulants that prevent the blood from clotting. If the female mosquito is disturbed, she flies away, but if not, she remains until she has a full abdomen. Female mosquitoes need a blood meal each time they lay eggs. The sensory nerve to the female mosquito’s abdomen is cut, and she will keep sucking until she bursts. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, photographer Jim Gathany’s photo shows a female Anopheles gambiae mosquito feeding and swelling her abdomen.

When a mosquito bites you, its saliva contains proteins that cause an immune response in your body. This leads to swelling and itching, which can be relieved with anti-itch medication like Calamine lotion or over-the-counter cortisone creams. Mosquitoes can also carry diseases like malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, and dengue fever. These diseases can be fatal and are transmitted by different species of mosquitoes. However, HIV cannot be transmitted through mosquito bites. Washing the bite with soap and water can help, and reducing mosquito populations can prevent the spread of disease.

Ways to Repel Mosquitoes

The most effective way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is through mosquito control and personal protection. To reduce the number of mosquito bites, you should wear clothing that covers your body and use mosquito repellent containing NN-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) at a concentration of 7.5 percent to 100 percent. Lower concentrations are enough for outdoor protection, and a 15-percent concentration is recommended for children. Avoid using Avon’s original Skin-So-Soft as it is a weak and short-lasting mosquito repellent. However, newer formulations of Skin-So-Soft that include EPA-recognized insect repellents can be used. Permethrin is an effective pesticide for clothing only and should never be applied to the skin as it is a neurotoxin. If you want to learn more about mosquito repellents, check out the EPA’s How to Use Insect Repellents Safely.

Aside from wearing protective clothing and using mosquito repellents, you can also help control the mosquito population by eliminating sources of standing water in your yard. Mosquitoes use any source of standing water to breed, so be sure to empty watering cans, remove old tires, and cover rain barrels. If you have a lily pond, you can stock it with fish that eat mosquito larvae. Some petroleum oils can suffocate mosquito eggs, but they can also harm fish living in the water. To prevent mosquitoes from entering your home, make sure that all of your window screens are intact. Finally, there are commercial pesticides available to kill mosquito larvae and adults, and a device like a Mosquito Magnet can lure and trap mosquitoes.

If you want to know more about mosquitoes and how to deal with them, you can find more information on the links provided on the next page.

Mosquito Myths

Some natural or man-made products have been claimed to be effective in repelling or controlling mosquitoes. Citronella oil, which can be made into candles or burned directly, is an effective mosquito repellent in high concentrations, but individual citronella-producing plants do not produce enough oil to repel mosquitoes effectively. Ultraviolet lights and ultrasonic devices, as used in bug zappers, are not effective in repelling mosquitoes.

Summary of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes have been around for over 30 million years and have evolved to use chemical, visual, and heat sensors to locate their prey. They detect carbon dioxide and lactic acid using chemical sensors, can see movement if the person is wearing contrasting clothing using visual sensors, and detect warm-blooded mammals and birds using heat sensors.

There are around 2,700 mosquito species, with the majority belonging to three major genera: aedes, anopheles, and culex. Aedes lay eggs in floodwater areas, anopheles lay eggs in permanent fresh water, and culex lay eggs in quiet, standing water. Mosquitoes start as eggs and develop into larva or “wigglers”, then molt into pupa or “tumblers”, and finally mature into adults and mate and feed. Male mosquitoes usually die within a few days after mating, while females can survive for weeks depending on the species and environmental conditions.

Top 5 Mosquito Facts

Mosquito is Spanish for “little fly”.

Discover more about mosquitoes.

Only female mosquitoes bite. They are attracted to heat, light, perspiration, body odor, lactic acid, and carbon dioxide.

Find out more about mosquito bites.

You can treat mosquito bites by washing them with soap and water and using anti-itch medicines like Calamine lotion to avoid scratching.

Learn more about treating mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes can spread many diseases, including:

Malaria
Yellow Fever
Encephalitis
Dengue Fever

Read more about diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

To repel mosquitoes, you can:

WВear clothing that covers most of your body
Use a mosquito repellent containing NN-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET)
Eliminate sources of standing water in your area to prevent mosquitoes from breeding

Learn more about mosquito repellents.В

Mosquito larvae and pupae are important food sources for fish in aquatic ecosystems.

Lots More Information

FAQ

1. What are mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are small, flying insects that belong to the family Culicidae. They are known for their ability to transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika virus.

2. How do mosquitoes bite?

Female mosquitoes have mouthparts that are specially adapted for piercing the skin of their hosts. They use their proboscis to locate a blood vessel and then inject saliva that contains anticoagulants to prevent the blood from clotting. The mosquito then feeds on the blood.

3. Why do mosquitoes bite?

Female mosquitoes bite in order to obtain the protein they need to produce eggs. Male mosquitoes do not bite, as they feed on nectar.

4. How do mosquitoes find their hosts?

Mosquitoes use a variety of cues to locate their hosts, including body heat, carbon dioxide, and scent. They are attracted to darker colors and people with higher body temperatures.

5. Do all mosquitoes transmit diseases?

No, not all mosquitoes transmit diseases. Only certain species of mosquitoes are capable of transmitting diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika virus.

6. What can be done to prevent mosquito bites?

Wearing long sleeves and pants, using insect repellent, and avoiding areas with high mosquito populations can help prevent mosquito bites. Additionally, eliminating sources of standing water where mosquitoes breed can help reduce mosquito populations.

7. Are there any natural ways to repel mosquitoes?

There are several natural substances that may repel mosquitoes, including citronella, lavender, and lemon eucalyptus oil. However, the effectiveness of these substances varies and they may not be as effective as synthetic insect repellents.

8. How can mosquitoes be controlled?

Mosquitoes can be controlled through a variety of methods, including the use of insecticides, biological control agents, and physical measures such as mosquito nets and screens. Integrated mosquito management programs that combine multiple control methods are often the most effective.