What are mosquitoes used for? Here are the 10 curiosities about mosquitoes to get to know them better!
Mosquitoes arrive in the heat and always leave too late . Late in the winter they still give us nasty surprises, hiding in the shower or between the coats of the closet. Let's face it, mosquitoes are really annoying insects and it's not clear what they are for? Here, in fact. What are mosquitoes used for? Here is the reason for this short
article on mosquito curiosities .
We will show you that mosquitoes not only have flaws, they also have
10 curious good reasons for existing . Let's see them together!
10 curiosities about mosquitoes:
1. Curiosity: how many species of mosquitoes are there?
We learned about the "home mosquito", that of the Po Valley. Finally we discovered the famous "tiger mosquito", the one imported from abroad, therefore bad by nature. But
how many types of mosquitoes exist in the world? Researchers count at least 3000 species of mosquitoes , of which 70 are present in Italy. So let's dispel the false myth of the mosquito. And if there are so many, where are they and why do we always see the same ones? The answer is simple. Only a few mosquitoes attack the human species. Most of them prefer other animals - birds, amphibians and invertebrates.
2. Curiosity: what do male mosquitoes eat?
"A mosquito stung me." How many times have we said that? But perhaps next time we should specify, saying that a female mosquito has bitten us, and moreover fertile. In fact, only female and fertilized mosquitoes suck blood. The reason is that
the blood is rich in proteins which are very important for the development of the eggs . So what do male mosquitoes eat? Males feed mainly on flower nectar.
3. Fun fact: why do mosquito bites itch?
What a nuisance when mosquitoes bite. We are constantly scratching, even if we know it is of little use. So why do mosquito bites cause that annoying itch? The answer is that
the saliva of mosquitoes contains an anticoagulant , which is a substance that prevents the blood from thickening. The coagulant is used to suck blood more easily, and the itching is caused by our immune system fighting against this substance. So we can say that it is not the mosquitoes that cause the itch, but it is our body.
4. Fun fact: Do mosquitoes love the beer festival?
Many of us will have noticed that mosquitoes especially chase those who drink alcohol, beer, or wine. To explain why science comes to the rescue once again. The reason could be this: those who drink alcohol produce a higher amount of acetone, ethanol and methanol, which comes out of our body through sweat. But let's dispel another myth. Mosquitoes are not attracted to alcohol and beer parties.
Mosquitoes are generally attracted by carbon dioxide , produced through the breath and skin, and by lactic acid, perceiving it up to 30 meters away. So drink as much as you want!
5. Curiosity: why do mosquitoes make zzzzzzzz?
This curiosity is mainly linked to half-sleep and the terrible suffering caused by the hum of mosquitoes. A warning, as if to say: "we are coming". Or a signal of some kind?
That annoying buzz is due to the very fast flapping of the wings . Think that mosquitoes flap their wings 300 to 600 times per second. For comparison, the hummingbird that has the fastest wing flapping among birds flaps its wings 12 to 80 times per second. There is no competition! According to some scientists, the buzzing of mosquitoes would be a love call capable of attracting female mosquitoes.
6. What are mosquitoes used for?
Useless annoying insects, what are mosquitoes for? Nature teaches us that everything is needed. If mosquitoes exist, it is precisely because there is a very specific purpose. You may not know that
some mosquitoes are indispensable for feeding birds that migrate from one country to another . For example, we can talk about the mosquito species Aedes impiger and Aedes nigripes, which are part of the diet of insects, birds, amphibians and fish. Then there are even some flowers that are pollinated by mosquitoes, for example some orchids of the Platanthera family. On the subject,
check out this mosquito scene from the Lilo & Stich cartoon !
7. How long do mosquitoes live?
It will surprise you to know that mosquitoes live up to 5-6 months without straying too far from the nest , a very long time in the insect world. To give other examples, the fly lives up to 1 month, while the ants have a maximum life of 3 weeks. That's why there are forgotten mosquitoes among shelves and furniture that jump out at the most inopportune moments :) There are even mosquitoes that manage to live for months moving up to 150 km from home.
8. Are mosquitoes dangerous?
As we have said, there are many species of mosquitoes. In Italy alone we count 70 types. Many species are not dangerous, and in fact we do not get sick from their bites.
However, there are some mosquitoes that transmit very dangerous and deadly diseases . According to the Lancet magazine, for example, mosquito-borne malaria kills 1.2 million people every year. This is due to poverty, the lack of cleanliness and the lack of protective systems such as sheets and mosquito nets. In Italy we install mosquito nets because mosquitoes bother us a lot, but in some countries, mosquito nets are even life-saving systems.
9. At what time do mosquitoes come out?
Mosquitoes are like young millennials. They party at night, and they especially love to party to others.
In the afternoon they are less active because it is hot and therefore prefer to stay cool. They go out when the sun goes down.
10. What colors are they attracted to?
Scientific tests developed between 1938 and 1955 have shown that
mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, especially black, followed by red and blue . Perhaps Al Bano knows better than all of us. In fact, the same tests show that mosquitoes are not very attracted to light colors such as white. but this is not true for all species. So come on, dress as well as you want according to the current fashion!
10 + 1. Are there any natural methods against mosquitoes?
If all these scientific curiosities have not convinced you, and you continue to think that mosquitoes do not help much, here is one last curiosity. This time it is a tip to remove mosquitoes (I recommend) with discretion and respecting the natural environment. Is there one thing mosquitoes hate? A remedy to remove them? Yes,
the oil extracted from catnip is a great natural way to hunt insects such as mosquitoes . According to some studies, this type of oil is even more powerful than deet (diethyltoluamide), one of the most effective insect repellents.
If, on the other hand, you want to be in peace in your home, we recommend the most effective method, that is, installing a mosquito net.
Are you interested in the topic and want to know more? You can watch our
Youtube video on mosquito curiosities :
