How Do Mosquitoes Help You?

Whether you like them or not, mosquitoes are an annoying insect. They are a nuisance and can spread diseases, like dengue fever and West Nile virus. You need to take precautions to protect yourself from them.

There are many species of mosquitoes. The United States and its territories are home to over 200 species. However, there are only about 100 species of mosquitoes that transmit disease. Aedes aegypti is the one that most commonly transmits viral illness. In recent years, it has spread the Zika virus and yellow fever in the United States.

Mosquitoes have been around for over 100 million years. They have evolved to live in different regions of the world. They also have many functions in the ecosystem. Most mosquitoes are plant feeders and pollinators. They carry pollen from plant to plant and carry seeds to another plant. They also feed on other animals, such as bats, lizards and fish. They can be a pest, but they are necessary to maintain the balance of an ecosystem.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is especially attractive to humans. It spreads viral illnesses such as West Nile, Zika, and malaria. It is also responsible for the deaths of at least 52 billion people over centuries.

Aedes aegypti, along with Anopheles gambiae, are the two species that most commonly transmit disease. They are considered to be the primary culprits for most of the deaths due to mosquito-borne illnesses.

Scientists are investigating ways to control mosquitoes. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has shown that the odor of human sebum triggers a “human-detecting” glomeruli in mosquitoes.

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