QUESTION Why do male mosquitoes not bites humans? ANSWER Male mosquitoes do not possess the right kind of feeding apparatus to feed on humans—they only feed on nectar. This is because they do not need to produce eggs, which require lots of energy and protein to make, and so the female mosquitoes need a more comprehensive food source than just nectar when they are egg-laying, such as … [Read more...]
Structure and Size of Malaria Mosquito
QUESTION What is the structure and size of the mosquito? ANSWER The mosquitoes that transmit human malaria belong to the genus Anopheles. As such, they follow the general body plan structure of a flying insect—three segments (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings. Anopheles females have modified mouthparts that allow them to feed on blood, by … [Read more...]
Is Malaria a Mosquito STD?
QUESTION Is Malaria a type of STD for mosquitoes? ANSWER No. Mosquitoes pick up the malaria parasite from feeding on the blood of infected humans. Since only female mosquitoes feed on blood (the males feed on nectar), male mosquitoes never get infected with the malaria parasite. The life cycle of malaria in the mosquito is also completely different than in humans, and mosquitoes have a … [Read more...]