By Reece and Ms. Laine

Mosquitoes are small flying insects that live in warm climates. Like all insects, mosquitoes have six legs, a head, a thorax, and abdomen.  Not all mosquitoes are the same. There are actually over 4,000 different species of mosquito which all look and behave in different ways.

 

Some mosquitoes like to live in rural

environments like swamps, while others like to

live in urban spaces like the city! Even though

mosquito species behave differently, they all

have some things in common. All mosquitoes

have antenna which they use to smell and l

ong mouth parts called proboscises which

they use to feed. The male mosquitoes only

feed on nectar and other plant juices, while

the females feed on mammal blood.

 

Female mosquitoes prey on lots of different

mammals, including humans. Unfortunately

for us, mosquitoes are vectors for nasty diseases like malaria and yellow fever. If an infected mosquito bites a human, they release virus-filled spit into the person’s blood stream, which will make them sick. Because mosquitoes carry diseases, it is important to manage their populations. Less mosquitoes, less bites. The less bites, less chance for people to get sick!