TAXONOMY OF MOSQUITOS (Troy Bartlett, 2004)
phylum Arthropoda - Arthropods Subphylum Hexapoda - Hexapods Class Insecta - Insects Order Diptera - Flies No Taxon "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) Infraorder Culicomorpha - Mosquitoes and Midges Family Culicidae – Mosquitoes BIOLOGY OF A MOSQUITO Mosquitos are a common pest to humans; however few people know the full story behind them and their importance to the ecosystem. Mosquitoes are known first and foremost as a vector for many deadly diseases. Mosquitoes are also pollinators that aid in decomposition of certain materials and in the release of nitrogen that is available for aquatic plants (Fang, 2010). Mosquitos play a vital role in the ecosystem not only as a pollinator but also as a food source. There are several different metamorphoses that mosquitos go through before reaching the adult stage, as well as many diseases vectored. Diseases are transferred from mosquito to human when the mosquito bites the human. |
Anopheles Freeborni
(Kirkpatrick, 2014) Aedes albopictus (carrier of Yellow Fever) first to US in 1985. (Michele M. Cutwa and James L. Castner & James
Gathany, 2004)
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Life cycle
(AMCA, 2014)
Mosquitoes go through several transformations before reaching their adult form, the length of time during this metamorphosis depends upon water temperature. The time of year that females lay their egg rafts depends on the species of mosquito. The larva goes through four stages called instars. When dealing with mosquito larva they will be referred to as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th instar. 1st instar being the newest and 4th instar being the closest to it pupae stage. Often times the only difference noticed is the size of the larva. The pupae, is the last stage before the mosquito becomes an adult. Pupae float close to the surface of the water to breathe through the trumpets that resemble horns. Pupae are often referred to as “tumblers” because of the tumbling motion they make to move. . Once mosquitos have reached the adult stage they begin searching for nectar and for the female’s blood meal for their egg broods (Fang, 2010). Only female mosquitoes bite, and that is because they need the blood meal to provide protein for the larva to mature. The males however search for nectar to feed, and in the process of collecting nectar also pollinate the plants they visit (Fang, 2010).
Gambusia affinis (NANFA, 2013)
Because mosquitoes are a vector for many diseases, many organizations have wanted to eradicate them. It is unknown the full Ramifications of eliminating mosquitoes altogether. Some believe that without mosquitos, certain species of fish and birds would lose an important food source. it is believed that without the mosquitos and their larva the Gambusia affinis, more commonly known as the Mosquito fish, would lose its main food source and possibly die out causing a chain reaction either direction of the food chain (Fang, 2010).
Mosquitos are a pest to many people all over the world; however in underdeveloped countries mosquitos have a devastating effect on the people who live there. Malaria affects over 247 million people every year (CDC, 2010). Other vectored diseases include Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, Rift Valley Fever, and many others. (Daily, 2013)
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(Unknown)
(Reuters, 2015)
Malaria Parasite
in a host cell. (Geographic, 1996-2015) |