List of Mosquito Facts
Posted in Science
Only female mosquitoes bite; using proteins from a blood meal to produce eggs. Most species can produce several batches of eggs during their lifetime.
The mosquito's visual picture, produced by various parts of its body, is an infrared view produced by its prey's body temperature.
You're more likely to be a target for mosquitoes if you consume bananas.
Biting activity increase by 500 times when there is a full moon.
A mosquito's wings beat 500 times a second.
The average life span of the female mosquito is 3 to 100 days; the male's is 10 to 20 days.
Depending on species, female mosquitoes may lay 100 to 300 eggs at a time and may average 1,000 to 3,000 during their lifespan. Adults can live for several weeks, feeding on carbohydrate sources such as nectar and fruit juices.
Worldwide, mosquito-borne diseases kill more people than any other single factor. In the United States, mosquitoes vector (spread) several types of encephalitis, dog heartworm, and malaria.
The larval and pupil stages can be found in a variety of aquatic habitats including: discarded containers, tires, temporary woodland pools, tree and crab holes, salt marshes, and irrigation ditches.
Most mosquitoes remain within 1 mile of their breeding site. A few species may range up to 20 miles or more.
There are over 170 described species of mosquitoes from North America. Several species have been accidentally introduced from other parts of the world.
Depending on temperature, mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in as little as 4-7 days.
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.
The larvae are filter feeders of organic particulates.
