Mosquitoes are one of the most common insect species on the planet. They can be found almost everywhere, except perhaps Antarctica - they do not tolerate such low temperatures as on this continent. And otherwise ubiquitous buzzing and squeaking, small and not very, they can meet at least in the desert, even in the center of a megacity.
Biologists count more than 3000 species of mosquitoes. They can be the size of a couple of millimeters to 3 centimeters. Usually their color is unattractive gray-yellow shade. Buzz these annoying insects produce due to a very high waving speed wings. If we ask the average citizen what the mosquitoes eat, then the answer is - of course, blood! But the glory of "blood-suckers" for insects was fixed not quite deservedly. This is due to the fact that representatives of all types of mosquitoes have a special structure of the oral apparatus - they are hidden in a long thin tube, which serves as a lower lip.
For some reason, no one thinks about what mosquitoes eat in the forest, for example, when there is not a single warm-blooded animal nearby. The myth persistently worries that they need exclusively fresh hot blood to maintain life support. However, this is not quite true.
The life of mosquitoes is observed from May to October. If the winter is over early, the first species representatives may appear even in April. During these months, more than one generation succeeds - after all the life cycle of a mosquito ranges from 19 days in males to 40 - in females. What do mosquitoes eat all this time?
Strangely enough, but with nectar and plant juices. Yes, mosquitoes themselves are not aggressive towards warm-blooded creatures. They can quite live their lives on such a vegetarian diet. And in general this is the answer to the question, what do males eat mosquitoes. Male individuals never drink blood - they do not need it for full development.
Where did the myth of bloodsuckers, hungry and greedy, if everything, what the mosquitoes eat, are quite harmless in appearance? The fact is that the protein contained in the blood of mammals is needed for female mosquitoes. To one species, this protein helps in the structure of the cells of eggs, others - in the reproduction of more of them. Thus, mosquito females drink blood to ensure a healthy, healthy offspring, and not to satisfy hunger. The same pattern is observed in some other types of insects - the flies, for example. In addition, not only human blood can trigger reproductive processes in mosquitoes. They are quite manageable as the blood of other animals, and fish, reptiles and amphibians.
Now that you know what the mosquitoes are eating, you may start treating them in your apartment with less negative. However, it should be remembered that despite the seeming harmlessness of mosquitoes remain carriers of dangerous diseases - malaria, yellow fever, dirofilariasis and others. In addition, mosquito bites can cause an allergic reaction in those people who are inclined to it.