Mosquito

The mosquito (Culicidae) is a family of flying insects belonging to the order Diptera. They are small insects with two wings, slender bodies, long legs and a long mouth part resembling a needle (proboscis). Thousands of species are known, and they inhabit nearly all regions of the world except areas of permanent ice.

Female mosquitoes of many species feed on blood, as the protein in blood is used for egg development. Males generally feed on plant nectar and other peaceful substances. Blood feeding makes the mosquito a vector (disease-carrying organism) for several diseases, including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika and certain viral encephalitis diseases.

Morphology and structure

The mosquito body is divided into head, thorax and abdomen. The head has large compound eyes, two feathery antennae, and the long mouth. The wings have small scales (tiny hair-like structures) that are distinctive in colour and form for each species; these scales are used scientifically to distinguish species. The humming sound heard when they fly comes from the rapid vibration of the wings.

Life cycle

Mosquitoes have four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The first three stages occur in water. The female lays eggs in standing or stagnant water—ponds, gutters, abandoned containers, tyres and holes with water. The larva feeds on microorganisms and organic matter in the water, breathing air from the water surface. The duration of the cycle depends on temperature and food; higher temperatures speed it up.

Health significance

Anopheles mosquitoes are the principal vectors of malaria, while Aedes species (particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) transmit dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Culex species transmit certain viral encephalitis diseases and filarial parasites. Disease transmission is not uniform: it depends on the mosquito species, climate and the presence of infected humans or animals.

Control

Control approaches target two aspects: reducing reproduction and protecting people. Reducing reproduction relies on draining standing water, covering containers and using larval insecticides or natural predators. Protection includes insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor spraying, protective clothing and repellent products. In recent years, methods have been tested involving the release of sterile males or genetically modified mosquitoes to reduce reproduction.