Can Mosquitoes Die From Too Much Blood?
WouterWhether mosquitoes can die from too much blood is an ongoing research topic. According to Dr Perran Stott-Ross of the University of Arizona, male mosquitoes are able to ingest blood and sugar.
Dr Stott-Ross conducted studies to test the hypothesis that blood ingestion is regulated by abdominal stretch receptors. He discovered that the mosquito proboscis was designed to ingest blood continuously.
He observed that male mosquitoes were able to ingest blood and sugar in a clear plastic cup. The female mosquitoes, on the other hand, only took blood meals. The result was biochemical chaos.
Dr Stott-Ross’s study showed that female mosquitoes are unable to walk, so they have to feed on blood. They drink five microliters of blood in a single meal. It is unclear whether they take a blood meal to replenish their ovaries or to produce eggs.
Mosquitoes also have an artificial layer of membrane on their proboscis that helps them ingest blood. They also inject saliva into the wound to help it flow smoothly. This saliva contains anticoagulant molecules that help prevent blood coagulation.
The female mosquito needs blood to reproduce. She can lay between 200 and 300 eggs at a time. However, she will only produce eggs if she has a blood meal.
In addition to the blood meal, the female mosquito will also take a blood meal from an infected human. This can lead to encephalitis, malaria, West Nile virus, and St. Louis virus. The pathogen takes between 10 and 12 days to complete its life cycle.
