Top 10 Facts About Mosquitoes You Need to Know

Top 10 Facts About Mosquitoes You Need to Know

Mosquitoes are flying insects that reside in most parts of the world. More than 3500 types of mosquitoes are there worldwide. All mosquitoes don’t bite humans or animals. When they bite the most frequent reactions by the human body are itching and swelling. 

Few mosquitoes act as a vector. A vector is an insect, animal, or tick that spreads pathogens to humans or other animals. The germs spread by mosquitoes can infect you. Nuisance mosquitoes do bite you but do not transfer germs/pathogens.

Table of Contents

1. Only Female Mosquitoes Bite:

Only Female Mosquitoes Bite

Are you familiar with the amazing fact that your blood assists mosquitoes reproduce? Moreover, you should be aware that only female mosquitoes bite. Our blood protein is required for the development of mosquito eggs.

2. Drawn to humans by their breath:

Drawn to humans by their breath

Mosquitoes are blessed with special receptors on their antennae. These receptors can detect carbon dioxide released while exhaling. The kneen sensitivity of these receptors can signal carbon dioxide from 75 feet away. A female mosquito flies restlessly through the carbon dioxide plume until she locates her target. 

3. The average life of mosquitoes is only two months:

The average life of mosquitoes is only two months

The shorter life span of these deadliest creatures might surprise you. The post-mating lifespan of a male mosquito is three to five days and a female mosquito can live for a month or two under ideal circumstances. Females will lay eggs after every 3 weeks.

4. Mosquitoes can hibernate:

Mosquitoes can hibernate

Mosquitoes are cold-blooded and thus can adjust their body temperature in accordance with their surroundings. So, here is the fact you have mosquito bites during hot seasons of the year. Mosquitoes in temperate regions of the world tend to spend a major life span in hibernation.

5. Mosquitoes spend their first 10 days in the water:

Mosquitoes spend their first 10 days in water

Water is an essential element in their life. Mosquitoes hatch their eggs into larvae (wigglers) in water. Larva feeds on organic matter in stagnant water and obtains oxygen from the surface. The wigglers then developed into pupae. Pupae are partially enveloped by a cocoon and do not feed. Pupae develop into adult mosquitoes. These development stages take 10 days until a mosquito starts to fly.

6. Female mosquitoes are blessed to lay up to 300 eggs at a time:

Female mosquitoes are blessed to lay up to 300 eggs at a time

Female mosquitoes lay eggs at night on the surface of stagnant water. Eggs are deposited in the form of clusters known as rafts. She laid these eggs in areas that flood regularly.  A female can lays eggs only three times before their death and each laying comprises 300 eggs.

7. Mosquitoes can drink up to three times their weight in blood:

Mosquitoes can drink up to three times their weight in blood

A tube-like structure known as a proboscis is designed for blood-sucking in mosquitos. It would require approximately 1.2 million mosquitoes to drain your entire blood.

8. Mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest creature:

Mosquitoes are the deadliest organisms and acts as a vector of deadly diseases. They are responsible for the spread of malaria which infects nearly 300 million people every year. There are a number of diseases caused by mosquito bites:

  • Dengue Fever
  • West Nile Virus
  • Cholera
  • Zika virus

9. There are more than 3500 species of mosquitoes:

There are more than 3500 species of mosquitoes

Don’t be amazed to know the fact that kinds of mosquitoes even more than humans on the planet. There are more than 3500 mosquito species. If 100 trillion mosquitoes packed together on a football ground, they would reach more than 3 miles.

10. Mosquitoes Have Poor Eyesight:

Mosquitoes Have Poor Eyesight

There are two spheres having hundreds of eyes on either side of the mosquito’s head. Under a microscope, it looks like a mesh. This physiological structure contorted their vision and they have to rely on thermal and chemical receptors.

Mosquito Bites:

Mosquito Bites

Mosquito bites are tiny, swelling (raised bumps) on the skin. Hen a female mosquito sucks your blood and swelling appears on that site. Mosquitos have six legs and elongated mouthparts. These mouthparts are involved in blood and nectar sucking. Usually, mosquito bites are unharmful. They might cause mild irritation for a short span. However, they are considered the deadliest because of their fatal disease transmission phenomenon.

Where do they live?

Mosquitoes are present near water. They lay their eggs in stagnant water. The eggs are often present in ponds, lakes, marshes, children’s pools, birdbaths, the inside of tires, and other containers having shallow water.

Why do mosquitoes bite?

Mosquitoes require blood for carrying out their reproduction. They bite and suck blood to meet the cause. Male mosquitoes only feed on flower nectar but female needs both flower and blood. Females obtain protein from their blood essential for their egg development.

What results when a mosquito bites you?

A tiny needle-like structure known as a proboscis pierces your skin. She sucks your blood and in turn secretes saliva in your bloodstream.

Why do mosquito bites cause itching?

The saliva secreted by mosquitoes in the bloodstream is detected as an allergen by your body. In response, your immune system releases histamine to remove the allergen from the body. Histamine moved to the bite site and causes itch and swelling. Most individuals do have a mosquito bite allergy.

How does a mosquito-spread disease?

Mosquitoes spread pathogens and diseases through their bites. Mosquitoes are vectors and mostly carry infections from the blood. Many organisms classified as vectors are bloodsuckers like ticks, sandflies, and fleas.

When a mosquito bites there is an exchange of fluids between your bloodstream and the mosquito. An infected mosquito sucks the blood of a person or animal. It then transfers the infection when it bites. Mosquitoes feed by the ‘sip feeding’ method. In the sip-feeding method, an organism takes multiple meals from different sources. So, mosquitoes don’t suck all of the required blood from a single source. Unluckily, this exposes a vast population to infection.

Diseases spread by mosquito bites:

Following are the diseases spread by mosquito bites:

Chikungunya

Detected in Africa, South and north America, Europe, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Symptoms of Chikungunya include fever, headache, nausea,  joint and muscular pain, tiredness, and a rash. 

Zika

Detected in Africa, Asia, North and South America, and the Pacific region. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes act as a vector for the Zika virus. The virus can be transmitted to other individuals through intercourse. Its symptoms are a mild fever, joint and muscular pain, headache, irritated eyes, and skin rashes. In pregnant women virus can be transmitted to their developing fetuses.

Dengue:

Detected in Africa, Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Aedes aegypti acts as a vector for the Dengue virus. Symptoms of the Dengue virus are fever, nausea, headache, and joint and muscular pain.

West Nile Virus:

Detected in Africa, West Asia, North America, and Europe. The Culex mosquito acts as a vector for the West Nile virus. This virus can be fatal. Symptoms of West Nile are fever, headache, coma, stiff neck, convulsion, confusion, and weakness of the muscles. 

Malaria:

Detected in sub-Saharan Africa. Anopheles mosquito acts as a vector for Malaria. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and headache. Malaria is a life-threatening disease.

Yellow Fever:

Detected in Latin America and Africa. The Aedes aegypti mosquito acts as a vector for Yellow fever. Symptoms include fever, muscle and back pain, headache, appetite, and vomiting.

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Who is at an exposure to being bitten by mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are free to bite anyone. Anyhow, a few factors might prompt mosquito bites. There are:

  • Blood group
  • Body temperature
  • Wearing perfume
  • Prolonged stay near stagnant water
  • Wearing dark-colored dresses 
  • Visiting a place with active mosquito-transmitted diseases

What does a mosquito bite look like?

A tiny bumpy swelling appears at the mosquito’s bite site. The elevated bump may change colors. You may also notice a small, dark spot in the center of the bump. The dark spot is the bite site.

What causes a mosquito bite?

A mosquito bite is the result of blood suck and bites by a female mosquito. Male mosquitoes don’t bite. The surroundings of the bite site became irritated and a circular bump swelling appears on the skin.

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What are the symptoms of a mosquito bite?

The symptoms may vary from mild to severe. The common symptoms of a mosquito bite include

  • Irritated skin and rash
  • An elevated circular bumpy skin at the site where the mosquito bites

The severe symptoms are:

  • An allergic reaction
  • Hives
  • Swollen throat
  • Wheezing
  • Faintness
  • Infectious diseases resulting in
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Bodyache
  • Rashes
  • Nausea
  • Eye irritation
  • Tiredness

How to treat mosquito bites?

There is no typical treatment for mosquito bites. Topical ointments can relieve discomfort and itchy skin. In case of severe symptoms, do consult your healthcare practitioner. Treatment may vary according to the type and severity of the infection.

How to relieve yourself from mosquito bite itch?

Please! Don’t scratch your mosquito bites. This will abrade your skin and expose it to further infections. In case of skin peeling, keep the area clean by washing it with antiseptics and applying a bandage on it. Consult your healthcare practitioner if the wound got infected.

Comparison between mosquitoes and other insects bite:

Comparison between mosquitoes and other insects bite

A comparison is a process to differential diagnose a disease. It is a procedure to analyze a patient’s history and physical examination to meet the correct diagnosis. So, here with differential diagnosis mosquito bites with other insects bites.

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Bed Bug vs Mosquito bites:

Bed Bug vs Mosquito bites

Bed bugs and mosquito bites can look alike at first glance. Thus it’s crucial to gather the small cues that can aid you to determine what actually bit you. You can go for the right treatment, only if you knew the cause.

Bed bug bite symptoms:

Bed bugs being nocturnal insects can bite you at night while sleeping or lying on the bed. They can bear a resemblance to other insect bites, such as mosquitoes, skin eczema, etc.

Appearance:

Bedbug bites are usually red, pimple-like, and puffy. You can see a red dot in the center of the irritated area. If you have bedbug bite sensitivity the bites could be fluid-filled.

Itch factor:

Bedbug bites are very irritating, and itchy. The irritation or pain is generally worse in the morning and subsides as the day proceeds.

Location:

Bedbug bites are generally seen on sites of exposed skin. The skin in contact with the bed including the arms, face, and neck are the primary target sites of bedbugs. Even so, they can also earth under clothing.

Number:

Bedbug bites follow a straight-line pattern in sets of three or more.

Signs:

Bedbug bites signs after getting infected are:

  • Redness
  • Fever
  • Tenderness
  • Swelling of adjacent lymph nodes

Mosquito bite symptoms in comparison with bedbug bites:

You can go through the following symptoms of mosquito bite as a tool of comparison with bedbugs:

Appearance:

Mosquito bites are tiny, red, and raised bites. Their size may vary depending on the individual’s natural reaction to the mosquito’s saliva.

Itch factor:

Mosquito bites are itchy and folks may have varying extend of reactions to them. In sensitive people, we can see a blistering reaction against mosquito bites.

Location:

Mosquitoes can bite across clothing, while bedbugs need an exposed skin site to bite.

Number:

An individual may have a single or multiple mosquito bites. In the case of multiple bites, the pattern is quite random and not in a straight line, contrary to bedbug bites.

Occasionally, an individual may have an anaphylactic reaction in response to a mosquito bite. This is an intense and life-threatening reaction that causes throat swelling, hives, and difficulty breathing (dyspnea).

Reaction Time:

A mosquito has to spend at least six seconds to bite you. The bites may be apparently visible and itchy instantly. The irritation can get better in a day or two.

Bedbugs are not always involved in skin reactions. In case of skin reaction, the span may be delayed by hours or days. This makes bedbugs difficult to treat immediately as you might be unknown of their presence.

The difference in the potential of transmitting disease:

Mosquitoes are well-known transmitters (vectors) of multiple diseases that infect people and animals.

Bedbugs are luckily not proven transmitters (vectors) of any diseases to people or animals.

If a person kept on scratching his mosquito or bedbug bite without proper hygiene and medicines, it might lead to secondary infections. 

Bite treatment:

Keeping the bite site clean and dry will aids them in healing. Don’t scratch to avoid secondary infections.

Mosquito bites generally don’t require any treatment. To relieve itch and irritation one can apply topical antihistamine cream. Apply an ice pack and wash regularly with water.

Bedbug bites can be treated by:

  • Applying a steroid or topical anti-itch ointment
  • Apply a cold compress
  • Taking oral antihistamines (anti allergies)

You have to get rid of the bedbugs from your home as well. Bedbugs after feeding can survive for up to a year. Do call a pest management professional to get rid of them from your place. It is of prime importance to request an inspection and to follow an integrated management plan. The plan must include recommendations, science-based information, products, and methods to be followed.

Flea bites vs mosquito bites:

Flea bites vs mosquito bites

Flea bites could easily be confused with mosquito bites. Many individuals and pets are sensitive to flea bites. The key factor in their differential diagnostic study is that flea bite remains small and never gets inflamed. While a mosquito bite shows abrupt swelling at the bite site. Flea and mosquito bites do cause itching but could be differentiated by considering the following symptoms.

Flea bite symptoms:

A flea bite does resemble an insect bite, which makes it hard to identify. 

Appearance: Flea bites are small, red bumps with a pointed center. The bumps are in a line of three or four in a row. This pattern of a flea bite is” telltale”.

Bite site: flea bites on ankles and lower limbs. These are easy access points for fleas while jumping off the ground. The length of a flea jump is up to eight inches. If you have pets like cats and dogs, there are increased chances of getting flea bites.

Itch factor: flea bites can cause severe itching that can drive you to disturbance.

Reaction time: Some individuals face itchiness immediately after being bitten by fleas. Others may not have any symptoms on the first bite but may have a drastic reaction on the second or third time.

Disease transmission: Fleas can transmit different diseases like typhus fever and bubonic plague.

Mosquito bites symptoms:

Mosquito bite symptoms, in comparison with fleas bite, are mentioned below:

Appearance: Small, red, welt, or puffy area. 

Bite sites: Mosquitoes may bite on various sites. It depends on their species. Commonly, they bite on exposed skin such as the neck, face, arms, or legs.

Itch factor: Mosquito bites itch lasts for a day or two without any bleeding.

Reaction time: Highly sensitive individuals may frequently develop a welt at the bite site. Upon scratching it might get an infection and be prone to secondary infections.

Disease transmission: Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, Dengue fever, West Nile virus, and malaria are all transmitted.

Bite treatment:

Flea bites could be relieved by applying an ice pack or anti-itch cream on bite sites. Oral antihistamines could also be used. In case of infection do consult your Healthcare Practitioner as soon as possible. Infection signs may include tenderness, pus, and warmth. Topical or oral antibiotics could be helpful. Do pay a visit to your doctor if you are suffering from flea bite hypersensitivity. Antihistamines can stop the itch. Warm showers can also be helpful to stop the itch.

We should protect ourselves from mosquito bites by applying topical steroids or itch-relieving ointments. Ice pack application for 10 minutes on bite sites can be helpful for relieving pain and irritation. In case of an anaphylactic reaction do consult your Healthcare Practitioner. The reaction signs include generalized hives, throat swelling, wheezing, or faintness. If the bite site becomes infected and pus is oozing out do start the antibiotic course prescribed by your doctor.

Frequently asked questions about mosquito bites:

 Do Male Mosquitoes Bite?

No, male mosquitoes don’t bite. They feed only on plant juices to get the required energy for their survival.  Male mosquitoes are not a source of disease transmission as they don’t bite. Contrary, the female mosquito requires a protein from the blood, essential for the development of their eggs.

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 What Do Male Mosquitoes Bite?

The male mosquito’s proboscis is not sharp enough to pierce the skin. So, males can’t feed on blood. Instead, they feed on flower nectar and fruit juices to meet the cause.

 If Male Mosquitoes Don’t Bite What Do They Eat?

Male mosquitoes survive only on plant juices and nectar for their entire life. These juices are sufficient enough to boost their energy levels. Thus, males don’t act as a vector for disease transmission. But females do need a specific protein from the blood to continue the development of their eggs.

How Do I Get Rid Of Mosquito Bites Fast?

By following the below-mentioned steps you can get rid of the mosquito bites immediately:

  • Wash the affected site with soap and water.
  • Apply an ice pack to it for 10 minutes. It will reduce itch and swelling. Continue applying ice packs as needed.
  • Apply a solution of baking soda and water. It will reduce irritation and itch.
  • Apply an antihistamine and anti-itch cream to relieve itching as soon as possible.

How Long Does The Mosquito Bite Last?

In general, mosquito bite itch can last for 3-4 days. Its redness may end up in 3-4 days. The inflammation or swelling may last for 7 days. Mosquito bites on the face may cause severe inflammation around the eyes. These signs and symptoms are the results of a normal inflammatory response by our defense mechanism. But it’s important to avoid scratching at the bite site as it enhances the chances of secondary infection.

How do I stop mosquito bites from itching?

Using the measures you can successfully relieve your itch.

  • Washing the area with soap and water
  • Ice pack application for 10 minutes
  • Baking soda and water mixture spray at the site
  • Apply an anti-itch and antihistamine cream 

What Should A Mosquito Bite Look Like?

Mosquito bites look like puffy, tiny, and reddish bumps.  These bumps are visible a few minutes after the bite. The bump may alter colors and for instance, you may see a tiny, dark spot in the center of the bump. This dark spot is the exact site where the mosquito bites.

What Does An Allergic Reaction To Mosquito Bites Look Like?

Bumps formed in case of an allergic reaction (Skeeter syndrome) are itchy, painful, red, and warm to the touch. This allergic reaction takes place as a result of an allergic reaction against proteins in mosquito saliva.

What are the symptoms of a mosquito bite?

Symptoms of a mosquito bite could be

  • A tiny, puffy, and reddish bump a few minutes post-bite.
  • A firm, reddish-brown single or multiple bumps post-bite.
  • Tiny blisters in spite of hard bumps
  • Dark spots that resemble bruises

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Cristina Bugatty

Cristina Bugatty is Editor at The Top Facts. She has been a factual writer for the last eight years. She Enjoys writing about anything techy, nerdy, or factually interesting.

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