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Today's Paper | May 24, 2024

Published 24 Sep, 2011 02:58am

Answers to your mosquito questions

• Mosquitoes were around in the Jurassic era when dinosaurs ran free and they are still just as strong today.

• Scientists believe that mosquitoes originated in South Africa and eventually spread to the rest of the world.

• Mosquitoes have evolved to the point where there are approximately 2,700 different species of mosquitoes.

• Ancient mosquitoes were up to three times larger than the ones found today.

• The word mosquito actually means “biting fly”.

• The three main parts of a mosquito are its head, its abdomen, and its thorax.

• A mosquito has two eyes that make up the majority of its head. Each eye is filled with little lenses so it can see from multipledirections at once — thus making it almost impossible to swat that dreaded mosquito.

• A mosquito has six legs.

• A mosquito has one pair of wings coming off its thorax.

• Upon close inspection, a mosquito’s abdomen has distinct markings that make it possible to tell which species it is.

• The average weight of a mosquito is about 2.5 milligrams.

• Both male and female mosquitoes eat flower nectar for nourishment.

• Female mosquitoes bite humans and animals so they can receive protein. This protein helps them lay eggs, thus bringingmore blood-sucking mosquitoes into the world.

• Only female mosquitoes make that annoying mosquito sound that puts you on red alert.

• Mosquitoes are more prone to attacking people and animals during a full moon

• Garlic mosquito repellent is fairly effective, which just goes to show why vampires are afraid of garlic, too.

• Mosquitoes like to aim for moving targets.

• Many mosquitoes target people in dark clothing.— Compiled by The Surfer

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