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Table of Contents
Mosquitoes belong to the Culicidae family, which contains almost 3,600 species of tiny insects (from the Latin culex meaning “gnat”). The word “mosquito” (from mosca and the diminutive -ito) means “small fly” in Spanish and Portuguese.
See the fact file below for more information on Mosquito, or you can download our 32-page Mosquito worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
FAMILY
- Nematocera is a suborder of elongated flies with slender, segmented antennae and primarily aquatic larvae (the name means “thread-horns”). Mosquitoes, crane flies, gnats, black flies, and a group of species known as midges are all significant families in the suborder.
- The antennae of Nematocera are generally long, delicate, and finely joined.
- There are about 3,000 mosquito species on the planet, roughly 176 of them located in North America.
THREE COMMON MOSQUITOES
- Mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles are the most frequent in the United States. Each has a distinct personality and the capacity to spread various illnesses.
- Aedes Mosquitoes. They are recognized from other mosquito species by their thin, black bodies, distinctive patterns of light and dark scales on the abdomen and thorax, and alternating light and dark bands on the legs. When landing, Aedes mosquitos hold their bodies low and parallel to the ground, with the proboscis bent downward. They are active day biters and prefer people as hosts, unlike the “average” mosquito in the United States.
- Culex Mosquitoes. It holds its body parallel to the resting surface, and its proboscis is bent downward relative to the surface. The wings, with scales on the veins and the margin, are uniform in color. They bite at night, both indoors and outside; they favor bird victims, although they will bite humans.
- Anopheles Mosquitoes. The proboscis, head, and body of Anopheles mosquitoes are kept in a straight line but at an angle to the surface in their resting position. Colored scales are responsible for the speckled appearance of the wings. Bite between the hours of night and dawn, preferring human and mammalian hosts.
LIFE CYCLE
- Mosquito life cycles are identical for all species. A mosquito larva develops from an egg. A larva develops into a pupa. The pupa develops into an adult mosquito.
- Mosquitoes deposit eggs in both water and soil. Some mosquitoes lay their eggs individually on the water’s surface. In contrast, others lay several eggs on rafts that float on the water, on damp ground, and in containers above the water level.
- An adult mosquito takes around 7-10 days to grow from an egg.
Egg
- Mosquito eggs have the appearance of black soil.
- Female mosquitos deposit their eggs above the waterline on the interior walls of containers with water.
- Eggs cling to the insides of containers like glue.
Larvae
- Water is where larvae dwell. They are developed from mosquito eggs. When water (from rain or a sprinkler) covers the eggs, this happens.
- In the water, larvae may be spotted. They are known as “wigglers” because they are exceedingly active.
Pupae
- Pupae are aquatic creatures. The pupa develops into an adult mosquito, which flies away.
Adult
- Female mosquitos attack both humans and animals. Mosquitoes require blood to lay their eggs.
- Female mosquitoes hunt for water sources to deposit eggs after eating.
ADULT MOSQUITOES
- Mosquitoes have a slim segmented body, one set of wings, one set of halteres, three sets of long hair-like legs, and extended mouthparts.
- The importance of adult mosquito parts;
Head
- Many organs in the mosquito’s head let them feed, see, and smell.
- Antennae: Long feather-like structures that sense carbon dioxide from a person’s respiration and air movement
- Eyes: Mosquitoes perceive movement with two huge compound eyes.
- Palps: Organs that detect odor between the antennae.
- Proboscis: This mouth portion of female mosquitos penetrates the skin of a human or animal and suctions blood. Males do not feed on blood since their proboscis is not tough enough to puncture the skin. The proboscis is used by both female and male mosquitoes to feed on flower nectar and fruit juices.
Thorax
- The thorax and the head are linked. The thorax connects the wings and legs.
- Halter: A little wing-like organ that allows them to maneuver while flying.
- Wing: Mosquitoes have two wings that they utilize to fly.
- Leg: Mosquitoes, like other insects, have six legs.
- Femur: Leg’s upper portion.
- Tibia: Leg’s middle portion.
- Tarsus: The part of the mosquito’s leg allows them to stand and walk on water.
Abdomen
- The stomach, reproductive system, and portion of the respiratory system are all located in the abdomen, which links to the thorax.
- Genitalia: Where the female releases her eggs.
DIFFERENCES IN MALE AND FEMALE ADULT MOSQUITOES
- Female mosquitoes have a longer lifespan than male mosquitos.
- Male mosquitoes are smaller, have bushier proboscises, and spawn sooner than female mosquitoes.
- Female mosquitos sucking blood can transmit illnesses. However, male mosquitoes do not.
- Male mosquitoes can mate several times since their job is to deposit sperm, but female mosquitoes can only breed once because they carry and lay eggs.
- Female mosquitoes have a louder pitch buzz than male mosquitoes because their wings beat 500 times each second. When hunting for a partner, males make this characteristic sound.
- Female mosquitoes are more vulnerable to insect repellents, according to an investigation, as they flew away substantially more than male mosquitoes. This is consistent with female mosquitoes’ desire to survive to safeguard their eggs.
HABITATS
- Mosquitoes may be found in almost every country, including the United States and its territories.
- Some mosquitos prefer to live near humans, whereas others prefer to live in forests, marshes, or tall grasses. Mosquito larvae and pupae dwell in water with little or no flow. Hence all mosquitoes enjoy it.
- Permanent Water Mosquitoes deposit their eggs in stable or semi-permanent bodies of water
- Some mosquitos prefer nutrient-rich pools, while others prefer pure water.
- Mosquitoes deposit their eggs at the borders of lakes and ponds, amid plants in swamps and marshes, and water-holding containers.
HAZARDS
- Adult Mosquitoes can transmit and infect us with different viruses and diseases. Zika virus, West Nile virus, dengue fever, and malaria are some diseases that are carried by mosquitoes.
- Zika Virus: Many individuals who are infected with the Zika virus will have no or very minor symptoms. The most prevalent Zika symptoms are:
- Fever, rash, headache, joint discomfort, red eyes, and muscle soreness are flu symptoms. Microcephaly, a birth disorder of the brain, and other severe brain malformations can be caused by Zika infection during pregnancy. It’s also connected to complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth abnormalities. In Zika-affected areas, there has also been an upsurge in reports of Guillain-BarrΓ© syndrome, a rare nervous system illness.
- West Nile Virus: Most individuals have no symptoms. The majority of those infected with the West Nile virus (8 out of 10) do not experience any symptoms. Some individuals get febrile sickness (fever). Infected people get a fever and additional symptoms such as headaches, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.
- Although most people with West Nile virus fever recover completely, lethargy and weakness can remain for weeks or months.
- Few individuals have had severe symptoms. Infected people are around 1 in 150 who suffer a severe disease affecting the central nervous system, such as encephalitis (brain inflammation) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
- Dengue: One out of every four persons infected with dengue fever will become unwell. It can cause mild to severe symptoms in those who contract it. In some cases, it may be fatal in hours and commonly necessitates hospitalization.
- Dengue fever, aches and pains, and a rash are mild signs that might be mistaken for other ailments.
- Fever with any of the following symptoms is the most prevalent sign of dengue fever: Nausea, vomiting, rash, aches, and pains (often behind the eyes, muscular, joint, or bone discomfort), and any other warning indication.
- Dengue fever symptoms usually persist for 2β7 days. The majority of patients will recover in roughly a week.
- Malaria Virus- Malaria parasite infection can cause a broad range of symptoms, from no symptoms to severe sickness and even death. Malaria is classified as either simple or severe (complicated). Malaria is often a treatable disease If detected and treated early and appropriately. When infections are worsened by severe organ failures or irregularities in the patient’s blood or metabolism, severe malaria develops.
Mosquito Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Mosquito across 32 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Mosquito, which belongs to the Culicidae family, which contains almost 3,600 species of tiny insects.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Mosquito Facts
- Parts of a Mosquito
- Label Me
- The Three Mosquiteers
- Help Me Remember
- Before We Meet
- Make-squito
- Cycle Crossword
- Guide the Proboscis
- Home Busters
- A Tragic Story
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a mosquito survive?
Male mosquitoes usually only live for 6 to 7 days. They mostly eat plant nectar, and they don’t bite people for blood. Female mosquitoes can live much longer if they have enough food. On average, female mosquitoes live around 6 weeks. However, if they have enough food, they can live up to 5 months or more.
How old is the mosquito?
Scientists estimate that mosquitos have been around for 226 million years, though the oldest mosquito fossil is only from 79 million years ago.
Do all mosquitoes drink blood?
Only female mosquitoes consume blood; this is how they transmit lethal illnesses like dengue fever and malaria. Even though male mosquitoes mostly feed on nectar and are harmless, they can be just as annoying as female mosquitoes.
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Link will appear as Mosquito Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 16, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.