Pictures of Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes are some of the most dangerous biting insects on the planet, not for the bite itself, but for all of the diseases they transmit through their bites.  Not all mosquitoes feed on humans though.  Many draw their nutrients from plants life just as often as they do animals blood.  Some species do require a blood meal to get the proper nutrient to reproduce. Females are usually the only part of the species that feeds on humans.

There are over 3,000 mosquito species around the world, and each have specially evolved mouth parts that are designed to pierce both plant and animal life to draw out their food source.  The lower lip is very long and is commonly used to guide the mandibles, the most commonly referred to part of the mouth, into the organism they are feeding of off.  the mandible then enters the flesh, going into the area the mosquito can draw its food source from.  Teeth placed at the end of the mouthpiece are used to pierce the flesh.

The biggest issue is the mosquitoes ability to transmit potentially dangerous diseases.  Yellow fever, dengue fever, and malaria are diseases commonly transmitted by mosquitoes.  While these aren't really an issue in more developed countries that take extra steps to eradicate mosquito populations, these diseases are very common on the African continent and in South and Central America.  These illnesses have a combined mortality rate of over 2 million people a year, with over 700 million becoming infected with these diseases.  While it was originally thought that mosquitoes could transmit HIV and AIDS, this has been disproved. 

Only female mosquitoes bites people, since they need a blood meal to spark their reproductive cycle.  When a mosquito bites, it injects saliva into the area that prevents the blood from coagulating.  This is the primary reason you develop a bite mark, since the saliva tends to cause a reaction with the body's immune system.  This causes swelling and itching in the area that will last until the saliva has been removed from the body.  After the saliva has been taken out of the wound or broken down by the immune system, the swelling and itching will start to dissipate.

Mosquitoes tend to find their prey through a variety of methods.  They can sense carbon monoxide, heat, sweat, even a person's body odor can attract them.  Using special sensors found on their head, they can detect prey from a great distance, following their senses to their next meal.

The mosquito will feed until either full or disturbed.  Certain nerves tell them when their abdomen is full of blood, and then they stop feeding.  If their meal is disturbed, they will leave the area to avoid any potential danger, but may return in a relatively short period of time to attempt finishing.

There are a number of diseases carried by mosquitoes, including those caused by bacteria, viruses, and even parasites.  Certain diseases carried by mosquitoes have been eliminated in Europe and North America, but are still common in areas that are less developed.  Yellow fever is a prime example.  There are still thousand of cases in Africa a year, but rarely a case found in the United States.

People can be bit by several mosquitoes over the course of a short period of time.  If you are in an area that is prone to mosquito infestations, such as in marshes or any land near water, you should wear bug repellent that work on mosquitoes.  Should you get bitten, clean the are with antibacterial soap and warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth.  Scratching can lead to opening up the wound further, which invites additional infections.

People tend to react differently to mosquito bites due to their immune system's response to the mosquito's saliva.  While some people may have a bump for a day  or two with no itching and minimal swelling, others may have a monstrous bump that lasts for over a week.

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