Mosquitoes, A Few interesting Facts

Mosquitoes are insects, Classified as “little fly”.

There are many species of mosquitoes, expected to be more than 3500 species of mosquitoes, world over.

Only female mosquitoes can bite humans. Male mosquitoes drink fruit juices or plant products.

Female mosquitoes suck blood from humans through a mouthpart called Proboscis .It pierces human skin and the mosquito draws blood by the pipe.

Female mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at a time. She does it after having her fill of human blood.

Mosquitoes operate in temperatures above 80 * C. In less than 50*C temperature, the insects hibernate.

On an average, a mosquito can live bit less than two months.

Mosquitoes cannot fly very far or very high. They fly generally in less than 25 feet altitude.

Mosquitoes can detect human breath. They can locate human exhaled carbon di oxide and target their prey.

Mosquitoes locate their victims by their sweat. Chemicals like Octenol, Cholesterol, Folic acid and certain bacteria attract mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes are attracted by perfumes and body lotions.

Body heat helps to locate their targets. Mosquitoes can locate capillaries to bite, by detecting the temperature of blood flowing through it.

Mosquitoes bite day and night. They work 24 hours a day.

Mosquitoes are attracted by dark clothing. Light colored clothes do not attract them.

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Diseases transmitted by Mosquitoes

Generally, following diseases are found to be transmitted by different species of mosquitoes, world over……

Yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease in form of high fever transmitted by Yellow fever mosquitoes.

Dengue
Dengue fever is transmitted in humans by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albropietus species of mosquitoes. They are only day biters.

Malaria
Various species of Anopheles mosquitoes transmit this disease in humans.

Chikangunya
This a virus spread by Aedes aegypti species of mosquitoes.

West nile fever
This mosquito transmitted disease spread by Culex tarsalis species of mosquitoes. Some other species of culex mosquitoes also contribute to the disease.

Eastern equine encephalitis
This virus is commonly spread by Aedes coquillettidia species of mosquitoes. Some culex mosquitoes are also responsible for the disease.

La crosse encephalitis
This disease is transmitted by Aedes triseriatus species of mosquitoes. This is a viral disease.

Japanese encephalitis
This is a viral disease spread by culex species of mosquitoes.

Filariasis
This is a disease which deforms the lower limbs in humans. This disease is spread by culex mosquitoes.

ZIKA
ZIKA virus is spread among humans by Aedes group of mosquitoes.
All diseases mentioned above are s[read by mosquitoes in which Aedes group are day biters. They transmit maximum fatal diseases as they are all virus originated. None of these viral infections have a cure. An Indian scientist has claimed to invent ZIKA vaccination. But it is yet to be made available for public use. Malaria and Filaria are protozoa disease and can be cured at early stage. These mosquitoes are night biters .

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Types of Mosquitoes

Though there are more than 3500 species of mosquitoes, couple of main species which are responsible for spreading deadly diseases are few. These species of mosquitoes are……

Anopheles
Culex
Aedes
Yellow fever mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals in this world. They spread deadly diseases among humans that are mostly unpreventable and incurable. Therefore, mosquito control is one of the major concerns of this world. Much research has been done and still being carried on, on methods of controlling and eliminating mosquitoes. It is the female mosquitoes those are deadly and mosquito life cycle ranges between one to two months. Mosquito’s control and elimination methods prove to be ineffective as because mosquitoes develop resistance against these anti mosquito agents very fast.

Controlling mosquitoes also involve an important issue, to control their breeding. For this, their breeding grounds must be destroyed. It is very difficult to kill them once they are born. So it is best not to allow them to be born. Common man must be educated not to allow these mosquitoes to breed. Water must not be allowed to be stored anywhere. Mosquitoes breed both in fresh water and dirty water. Aedes species of mosquitoes which spread Dengue and some other deadly diseases can breed in fresh water stored even in a bottle cap. In cases of mosquitoes, Prevention is the only cure.

Killing mosquitoes are a difficult proposition. Even the best and latest mosquito repellents fail within matter of months. Some herbs are claimed to be effective as natural mosquito repellents and killers. To control mosquitoes outdoors is practically impossible. There are mosquito catchers and mosquito nets, but everything ultimately fails. Varieties of mosquito killer and repellent sprays, mosquito killer machines, mosquito traps, mosquito yard spray etc are available but none works after some time.

The best and most effective way to control mosquitoes is to adopt professional pest control system. This is the one way, apart from destroying mosquito breeding grounds, to eliminate mosquitoes with guarantee.