Here are a few interesting facts about the life of mosquitoes. After you've read this, you'll probably want to take action right away to take control over them.
- Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide, lactic acid and octenol found in our breath and sweat. They also are able to sense the heat and humidity of our bodies.
- Only female mosquitoes bite. Females need the proteins in blood to help their eggs develop.
- There are around 3,500 species of mosquitoes around the world.
- Mosquitoes hibernate in the winter. At temperatures less than 10°C, they will shut down for the winter.
- Male mosquitoes will live 10 days or less, and female mosquitoes can live from six to eight weeks.
- Female mosquitoes lay eggs every three days. They lay their eggs in shallow, standing water or in damp soil.
- Mosquitoes are less active in the afternoon, when temperatures are the hottest.
- Male mosquitoes locate females by the sound of their wings.
- Mosquitoes generally fly below 25 feet.
- Dark-coloured clothes attract mosquitoes as they retain more heat than light-coloured ones.
- Female mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at a time.
- Malaria infects around 250 million people each year around the world. It is caused by a parasite that lives in mosquitoes.
- They are considered the deadliest animals in the world. They can transmit diseases such as malaria, Nile virus, dengue fever, Zika, etc.
- Mosquitoes are as old as the dinosaurs!
