On a quiet summer evening, near a lake or rivulet, or maybe over a path in the forest, you must have watched mosquitoes swarm. Incidentally, this randomly moving mass consists of only male mosquitoes. The science describes swarms that were up to 5 m wide and 7 m high.
How a male mosquito mates
With a swarm of mosquitoes, they expect a female to be nearby. This space-consuming mating method is called “eurygamy”, that is, mating at the time of swarming. Males, in the amount of up to 100, 000 individuals, hustle, clanging their wings, which attract females. The first who manages to grab a curious lady who flew into a swarm fertilizes her right in the air.
But the urban male mosquito mates without a swarm. This is called "stenogamy" and allows the urban insect to produce offspring in basements, which are usually limited in size.
How the thirst for blood wakes up
A male mosquito, ready for mating, discovers the female with the help of antennae coated with microwaves; they serve him as hearing organs capable of picking up the sounds made by the female. The squeak of a mature female causes greater mosquito activity than the sounds made by a young individual.
From the moment fertilization occurs, the female mosquito begins to urgently need blood. Without her, she will not be able to lay eggs and bring out full-fledged offspring. Therefore, the female is looking for an object for feeding. A hungry fertilized individual can feel the presence of a warm-blooded object at a distance of up to 3 km! And in one go, the bloodthirsty “lady” can drink more than her original weight.
Why is a male mosquito a vegetarian?
Probably, it’s not news to anyone that only females bite us. And all species of mosquitoes without exception suggest males that feed on nectar, pollen, or do not eat at all. For example, like mosquito bells that live only 3 days and do not even have a mouth opening. And although they itch just as disgusting as their bloodsucker ladies, they do no harm to humans.
By the way, if for some reason a female mosquito cannot find blood, she becomes a forced vegetarian. It also loses the ability to lay eggs.
The protein found in the blood of a person or animal gives strength to the mosquito in order to lay eggs that can produce healthy mosquitoes. The male mosquito, whose photo you see in this article, does not need such a solid recharge. He has enough carbohydrates to enjoy life.
And why are they needed?
Take your time to argue: “They bite painfully, squeak disgustingly - they interfere with life!” Well, yes, to some extent they interfere. Mosquitoes - females and males - seem to be created in order to annoy people and animals. Yes, and suffer diseases! But the disappearance of this important link in the natural food chain would lead to incredible cataclysms.
For example, in places with severe climatic conditions, sometimes only mosquito larvae serve as food for a huge number of birds. The disappearance of a mosquito - the death of birds … And then, probably, no need to tell. In addition, on their bodies, these insects carry such a quantity of microelements necessary for the growth of both blades of grass and giant trees that the discussion about the need for a mosquito in our world goes aside. There is nothing superfluous in nature!
