What to Mosquitoes Eat
WouterDepending on the stage of their life cycle, mosquitoes may feed on a variety of foods. Adult mosquitoes eat sugary plant foods, which give them energy to fly. They also rely on nectar for nutrition. Honeydew is another major food source.
Some female mosquitoes also consume human blood for breeding. Their proboscis is much sharper than the male’s, so it is better suited to draw blood.
Adults of some species, such as the Aedes aegypti mosquito, feed on a wide variety of plants, including pin cherry, Canada plum, and dryas integrifolia. They have also been observed feeding on a wide range of woodland plants.
Some species prefer to feed on specific types of animals, such as birds, reptiles, and mammals. However, the majority of mosquitoes are vegetarians.
While adult mosquitoes feed on sugary plant foods, larvae live below the water’s surface. They consume microorganisms, algae, and bacteria, as well as organic material in the water. They are primarily vegetarians, but they occasionally indulge in carnivorous cravings.
While male and female mosquitoes can mate without blood, they both need a blood meal to reproduce. They can mate multiple times over a summer. After mating, the female stops looking for a host to bite and begins to lay eggs. In winter, they hibernate. They do not need to eat while in the pupa stage.
Female mosquitoes need blood proteins to make their eggs. They need to eat a high amount of protein during the breeding stage. Their proboscis is also larger, making it more suited to drawing blood.
