How Much Does a Mosquito Weigh?
WouterWhether you’re looking for the answer to ‘how much is a mosquito’ or the weight of a mosquito, there are many factors you’ll want to consider. A mosquito can weigh as little as 2.5 mg.
An adult female mosquito can consume five millionths of a liter of blood in a single meal. This is enough to support the female’s body and eggs. When it’s time for a meal, the female bites, pierces the victim’s skin, and then sips the liquid. The female can also bite up to five times per day.
The female’s abdomen is specialized for food digestion and egg development. In addition, the female’s blood serves as the protein source for the eggs. When she’s hungry, she’ll suck as much as three times her weight in blood. She’ll keep biting until she’s full.
The head is hollow and is used for feeding and sensory information. It is connected to the thorax, a larger part of the body. It’s also connected to the abdominal region, which is specialized for the reproduction of the female.
The legs are long and thin. The tarsus, or end of the leg, provides a large supporting force for the entire body. When the mosquito is on water, it only uses the tarsus.
The femur is about 2.5 mm long. The tibia is rarely in contact with the surface of the water.
The wings of an adult mosquito can move up to 600 times a second. This enables the insect to fly at up to 1 to 1.5 miles per hour. Some species lay eggs in rafts on the surface of the water. Others lay eggs singly.
