Why Only Female Mosquitoes Bite?
WouterCompared to male mosquitoes, female mosquitoes are more common and buzz around humans more often. They also transmit diseases such as malaria. They may not be as threatening as male mosquitoes but they can still do serious damage. Unlike male mosquitoes, female mosquitoes do not choose their hosts.
The female mosquito is larger and has feathery antennae. They also have a long mouth part that pierces the skin, allowing them to drink blood.
While female mosquitoes drink blood to grow eggs, male mosquitoes eat plant sap and nectar. Males do not bite and do not swarm, but they do construct colonies. Male mosquitoes are also known to impregnate other females.
Males don’t have the same ability as females to pierce the skin, so they don’t get the same sized blood meal. They also do not have a specialized stylet to do the piercing. However, the female mosquito’s stinging device is not only more subtle than a medical needle, but it’s also a whole lot better at extracting blood from capillaries.
Female mosquitoes also have a number of clever little tricks up their sleeve. One is their ability to detect carbon dioxide in the air. This is the reason they’re able to buzz around people. Another is their ability to secrete saliva into the bloodstream. This helps lubricate the mouthpart opening and prevent clotting. The female mosquito also has a tiny slit in its mouth part that drains blood from nearby blood vessels.
