Mosquitoes are one of the most common types of insects on the planet. They can be found almost everywhere, with the possible exception of Antarctica - they do not tolerate such low temperatures as on this continent. As for the rest, the ubiquitous buzzing and squealing, small and not very good, they can be found even in the desert, at least in the center of the metropolis.
Biologists have more than 3, 000 species of mosquitoes. They can be a size from a couple of millimeters to 3 centimeters. Usually their color is an unappealing gray-yellow hue. These annoying insects buzz due to the very high speed of flapping wings. If you ask the average layman the question of what mosquitoes eat, then the answer will be - of course, blood! But the glory of the “bloodsuckers” for insects was not quite well established. This is explained by the fact that representatives of all types of mosquitoes have a special structure of the oral apparatus - they have it hidden in a long thin tube that serves as the lower lip.
For some reason, no one thinks about what mosquitoes eat in the forest, for example, when there is not a single warm-blooded animal nearby. The myth persists that in order to maintain their livelihoods they need exclusively fresh, hot blood. However, this is not quite true.
Vital activity of mosquitoes is observed from May to October. If winter ended early, the first representatives of the species may appear even in April. During these months, more than one generation has time to change - because the life cycle of a mosquito ranges from 19 days in males to 40 in females. What do mosquitoes eat all this time?
Oddly enough, but with nectar and plant juices. Yes, mosquitoes themselves are not aggressive towards warm-blooded creatures. They may well live their lives on such a vegetarian diet. And in general, this is the answer to the question of what the male mosquitoes eat. Male individuals never drink blood - they do not need it for full development.
Where did the myth of bloodsuckers, hungry and greedy come from, if everything that mosquitoes eat is quite harmless in appearance? The fact is that the protein contained in the blood of mammals is necessary for female mosquitoes. This protein helps some species in the structure of egg cells, and others - in the reproduction of more of them. Thus, female mosquitoes drink blood to ensure healthy offspring, and not to satisfy hunger. The same picture is observed in some other species of insects - horseflies, for example. In addition, not only human blood is capable of triggering reproductive processes in mosquitoes. They are completely dispensed with the blood of other animals, as well as fish, reptiles and amphibians.
Now that you know what mosquitoes eat, you may begin to relate to their appearance in your apartment with less negativity. However, it should be remembered that despite the seeming harmlessness, mosquitoes remain carriers of dangerous diseases - malaria, yellow fever, dirofilariasis and others. In addition, mosquito bites can cause an allergic reaction in people who are prone to it.
