How Do Mosquitoes Use Blood to Make Babies?
WouterDuring the blood feeding process, the mosquito ingests body weight and protein in its blood to produce eggs. When the female mosquito has enough blood for her egg-laying, it begins its search for a new host.
The mosquito uses its long proboscis to puncture the skin and suck the blood. It then injects saliva into the wound to stop the clotting of blood. When the bite is complete, the mosquito will leave a welt.
After a few hours, the itching sensation subsides. However, swellings may persist for several days. If the bite is punctured by a bacteria, infection can occur.
The Aedes aegypti, which originally hailed from sub-tropical Africa, now resides in many parts of the world. It buzzes at dusk and is common in warmer climates. Its larvae mature in a few days and develop into four instars.
The female mosquito’s mouthpart is long and serrated. The proboscis contains a labrum, which is a sharp-tipped needle. In the video, you can see a labrum piercing a mouse’s skin.
The mouthpart sucks blood and flower nectar from its hosts. It carries the virus that causes West Nile disease. It can also carry malaria and dengue.
The female mosquito will lay up to 500 eggs. When she dies, she can carry West Nile and other diseases to her next host. During her lifetime, she will lay about ten broods.
Female mosquitoes can drink up to two to three times their own weight in blood. They use the extra blood to help them grow and produce more mosquitoes. In addition, they can suck blood from warm-blooded animals, including humans.
