If you’ve ever been bitten by a mosquito, you’ll know just how irritating these pesky insects can be!
There are thousands of different mosquitoes, some of which can cause serious illnesses if left unchecked.
They cause mayhem worldwide and are a serious threat for governments and communities to handle.
Keep reading to find out more irritating facts about the annoying mosquito.
Mosquitoes (or mosquitos, both are correct) have been described by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the world’s deadliest animal.
Only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals, and it’s only because they need protein from blood to produce eggs!
Male mosquitoes only feed on nectar from flowers. When female mosquitoes are not producing eggs, nectar is their main source of food, too.
Female mosquitoes use a pointy straw-like part of their mouths (known as a “proboscis”) to suck up blood while her saliva enters the skin of her victim.
A mosquito’s saliva contains proteins called anticoagulants and anesthetics. The anticoagulants thin your blood, and the anesthetics stop you from feeling it until they’re done.
Mosquitoes can spread germs through their bites, including malaria and the Zika virus. Some people are unaffected by mosquito bites, while others contract serious illnesses.
Mosquito bites itch because your immune system releases histamine in response to proteins in mosquito saliva. Some people have Skeeter Syndrome and are highly allergic to these proteins, with symptoms including severe itching, pain, and fever.
Malaria affects over 200 million people annually, leading to approximately 627,000 lives lost worldwide. While most mosquitoes don’t carry deadly germs, knowing which ones are safe is impossible.
Mosquito bites can also transmit viruses to animals like horses and dogs, such as heartworm disease and West Nile virus.
There are more than 3,700 types of mosquitoes in the world. They live on every continent except Antarctica.
One similarity among all mosquito species is that they experience four stages of life, transitioning from egg to larvae, then pupa, and finally, adulthood.
They can only fly once they become adults. After that, they are in a race against the clock, with only one week to a month to live.
The word “mosquito” comes from Spanish and Portuguese and means “little fly.”
The tiger mosquito, which originated in Asia, is considered one of the most dangerous mosquitoes. It bites during the day and has been linked to dengue outbreaks and other viruses.
Studies have shown mosquitoes are drawn to the carbon dioxide we breathe out. They have a very good sense of smell and are attracted to skin odors and other compounds in our sweat.
Using nets and repellents is the best way to keep mosquitoes away. The United Nations buys millions of mosquito nets annually and distributes them to countries that need them most.
The first mosquito repellents were discovered in a laboratory in Orlando, Florida, in 1942. The key compound, known to most of us as DEET, is “N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide.”
DEET became available to the general public in 1957 and is still used today. The global mosquito repellent industry is valued at over 6 billion U.S. dollars!
In 2024, actress Rebel Wilson said she contracted malaria as a teenager after being bitten around 100 times!
If you thought regular-sized mosquitoes were bad enough, in the 1995 movie Mosquito a group of people have to fight off swarms of giant ones!
Mosquitoes can fly for hours without taking a break, with some flying up to 40 miles (63 kilometers) in a single night!
Mosquitoes take more lives than any other animal, and even celebrities can’t escape their irritating bites.
When a female mosquito is producing eggs, she’ll be flexing her great sense of smell to find some blood!
Luckily, preventive measures can be taken to keep you safe and itch-free! Millions of mosquito nets and insect repellent products are sold every year to keep these pesky bugs away.
So, when the temperature heats up and you’re outside in the evening, watch out for those pesky mosquitoes!
