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A few little known mosquito facts
In no order of importance
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| Only female mosquitoes bite; using proteins from a blood meal
to produce eggs. Most species can produce several batches of eggs during their
lifetime. |
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| The mosquito's visual picture, produced by various parts of
its body, is an infrared view produced by its prey's body temperature. |
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| The average life span of the female mosquito is 3 to 100
days; the male's is 10 to 20 days. |
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| Depending on species, female mosquitoes may lay 100 to 300
eggs at a time and may average 1,000 to 3,000 during their lifespan. |
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| Adults can live for several weeks, feeding on carbohydrate
sources such as nectar and fruit juices. |
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| Worldwide, mosquito-borne diseases kill more people than any
other single factor. In the United States, mosquitoes vector (spread) several types
of encephalitis, dog heartworm, and malaria. |
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| The larval and pupil stages can be found in a variety of
aquatic habitats including: discarded containers, tires, temporary woodland pools, tree
and crab holes, salt marshes, and irrigation ditches. |
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| Most mosquitoes remain within 1 mile of their breeding site.
A few species may range up to 20 miles or more. |
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| There are over 170 described species of mosquitoes from North
America. Several species have been accidentally introduced from other parts of the
world. |
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| Depending on temperature, mosquitoes can develop from egg to
adult in as little as 4-7 days. |
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| Presently, the cues used by mosquitoes to find their hosts
are poorly understood. Carbon dioxide (CO2), heat, octenol and light have been shown
to be attractants. Other compounds tested such as lactic acid also have proved
to attract certain species of biting insects. |
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The larvae are filter feeders of organic
particulates. |
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