The loathsome, lethal mosquito - Rose Eveleth

How do mosquitoes feed on blood?

• They use their antennae to locate blood vessels and then bite.

• They slather saliva, carve a hole with mandibles, and probe with their proboscis for a blood vessel.

• They create a small suction cup on the skin to draw blood.

• They inject a numbing agent and then use a sharp tooth to cut the skin.

Which of these diseases can be spread by mosquitoes?

• The common cold

• Malaria, Yellow Fever, and West Nile Virus

• Influenza

• Chickenpox

What is a major negative impact of mosquitoes on humans and animals?

• They help pollinate plants.

• They are a food source for many animals.

• They transmit diseases that kill millions of people and animals.

• They only cause itchy bites.

What is one ecological role of mosquitoes in nature?

• They are important predators of large mammals.

• They help decompose dead plants and animals.

• They serve as a food source for animals like frogs, fish, and birds.

• They produce oxygen for the atmosphere.