Although mosquitoes are small, the harm they cause is immeasurable. The bites caused by mosquitoes are more dangerous than those of many other animals. Do you know how the mechanism of mosquito blood-sucking works?
The reason why mosquitoes suck human blood.
Before we learn about the mechanism of mosquito blood-sucking, we should first understand the reason why mosquitoes suck human blood.
Few people know that only female mosquitoes suck blood, while males do not. This shows that blood is not a food source for mosquitoes. The reason why they “thirst for blood” is because they need to supplement their protein source to lay eggs. Normally, their food source consists of plant sap and fruits.
Mosquito eggs are laid on the surface of the water and gradually transform into larvae, pupae, and then finally mature into mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are particularly sensitive to carbon dioxide in exhaled breath and are also able to detect infrared radiation from areas of high body heat. This makes them especially sensitive to the scent of sweat, which is often associated with exhaled carbon dioxide. People with blood type O and those who are overweight are particularly attractive to mosquitoes and are often their primary targets.
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The mechanism of mosquito blood-sucking
Don’t judge the level of danger of mosquitoes just by their small size! They have up to 6 needles to serve their blood-sucking process.
Looking from the outside, it may seem like mosquitoes have only one needle to inject into your skin. However, this is not the case. The needle you see on the outside is just a sheath, and inside, they actually have up to 6 separate needles.
Once mosquitoes have identified their target, they will pierce your skin with all 6 of these needles at the same time. They then begin to search and adjust their position to locate the correct blood vessel and begin feeding in a state of “thirst.”
In addition, they have the ability to filter water, ensuring that the blood they consume is pure. The concentrated blood will be kept in their stomachs. The thicker the blood, the higher the chance of reproduction for the next generation. Since the lifespan of a mosquito is only a few weeks to about a month, they always “seize the opportunity” for reproductive purposes.
The mechanism of mosquito feeding has shown you the true “ability” of this small insect. Now you surely have a better understanding of mosquitoes, right? Always remember to protect yourself from this blood-sucking species!
See more: Images of mosquitoes sucking blood