Mosquito Facts
Mosquitoes find hosts by observing movement through sight. They use infra-red radiation that is emitted by warm bodies and chemical signals at distances of 25 to 35 meters to find blood too! Here are a few more weird mosquito facts you might not know!
• The average mosquito takes in about 5-millionths of a liter of blood during feeding.
• In order to obtain energy, both male and female mosquitoes feed upon plant nectars much in the same manner as honeybees.
• Blondes tend to be more attractive to mosquitoes than brunettes.
• Women are usually more attractive to mosquitoes than men because of the difference in hormones produced by the sexes.
• Salt marsh mosquitoes can migrate up to 40 miles for a meal.
• A full moon increased mosquito activity 500% in one study.
• Asian Tiger Mosquitoes have been found breeding in tree-holes over 40 feet above ground.
• Mosquitoes have been found breeding up to 14,000 feet in the Himalayas and 2000 feet underground in mines in India.
• Most adult female mosquitoes live 2-3 weeks, during which time they can feed 4 or 5 times, laying eggs after each meal. Some species that overwinter in garages, culverts and attics can live as long as 6 months.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
• There are 176 species of mosquito in the United States. At least 62 of these have been found infected with the West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV is transmitted from infected birds to humans by mosquitoes. There are thousands of WNV cases and hundreds of deaths nationally each year. Severe cases are marked by the occurrence of convulsions, paralysis, coma, and/or death.
• Mosquitoes are the only known means of transmission of the causal agents of malaria, yellow fever, some types of encephalitis, dengue, and filariasis. The malaria parasite has been responsible for half of all human deaths since the Stone Age. Today, it sickens 300 million every year despite the fact that we know how to prevent it.
• Over 1 million people die from mosquito-borne diseases every year.
• Mosquitoes transmit heart-worm to pets.
