Know Your Enemies: Learn About The Mosquito Lifestyle
Mosquito is the Mexican word for “little fly.” Certainly, these thin, long-legged and winged insects are small but they really are annoying. Think about a sleepless night because they just won’t stop biting? Or how about a pleasant day for an outdoor picnic ruined by the smell of mosquito repellents used to stop the pestering parasites?
Where Does The Mosquito Live?
Mosquitoes have been walking the planet even before humans did. There are around 2,800 species found in most parts (especially the tropics) of the world. They are common during summer, when there are enough stagnant water they can lay eggs in. Usually they occupy the ponds and other places such as gutters, old tires, flower vases – practically any place that can hold water.
They may not look scary or dangerous but their bites are really something to avoid. Why, they are not only irritating and itchy, some of them can also transmit diseases including malaria, dengue fever and encephalitis. Some of these are serious diseases that could take away one’s life if not recognized early.
But it is worthwhile to know that not all mosquito bites transmit diseases. Not even all mosquitos bite. The female Anopheles is considered the malaria mosquito, the males basically do not transmit the malaria complex since they do not bite. The males feed from the nectar of plants while the females hunt prays to suck blood from. The blood meal is necessary to help the eggs to develop.
How Does A Mosquito Find A Victim?
They are attracted to carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and certain chemicals in the sweat; and they can sense them even from afar. Don’t think of spending the day without changing to fresh clothes unless you want them all running after you. Repellents work by confusing the chemicals so that the mosquitoes won’t find you based on the scent alone. Aside from the chemical sensors, they can also detect heat from warm-blooded animals (they certainly bite birds, pigs, and dogs too) and don’t really care as long as they sense life in the animal near them.
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