Not All Mosquitoes Drink Blood

Wouter

Among the hundreds of species of mosquitoes in the world, not all drink blood. Some of the species only feed on carbohydrates. Others, such as the West Nile, carry viruses, and need blood to reproduce.

In addition to blood, a female mosquito needs protein to lay eggs. Other food sources may include sugars in plants and nectar from flowers. But some mosquito species prefer to drink human blood.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a warm climate species that buzzes at dawn and dusk. It is now found throughout much of the world.

The study showed that male mosquitoes ingested more blood than females. This is not because they are picky about the type of blood they eat. However, it was also shown that males were more likely to die if they ate blood.

Scientists have studied the biology of mosquitoes for decades. They have discovered fossils of the mosquitoes that lived long ago. Their research has practical applications for drug companies and mosquito-repellent makers. But there are still many questions about how mosquitoes actually feed.

The researchers conducted assays with a variety of test tubes and cups. Each test tube contained either blood or sugar. The concentration of sugar was maintained at 10%. They placed the tubes in different positions, and the blood in different locations.

The researchers filmed the feeding process using an Olympus SP-820UZ digital camera. They filmed it for 30 minutes, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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