Can There Be a Creature More Unpopular than the Mosquito?

Generally regarded with extreme repugnance for being a bloodsucker, the mosquito is without much doubt the most unpopular creature in the world. For centuries, people have tried to exterminate mosquitoes, swatting at or poisoning them. But all these serious attempts at eliminating the mosquito have been futile, and this nuisance continues to flourish. What's even more worrisome is that since mosquitoes thrive best under humid and warm conditions, some of the species that are known to carry certain diseases may even spread with the increased oceanic and atmospheric temperatures of the earth.

It is a known fact that only the female mosquito feeds on the blood of both humans and animals (the male mosquito is considered completely harmless, feeding only on plant nectar). Some female species are known bearers of serious or even deadly diseases, including yellow fever and malaria. The latter is widely prevalent in the tropics since the greatest number of malaria-carrying mosquitoes are found in this region. With global warming, however, these particular species are moving up north. In worse, though rare, cases, some mosquito species can transmit the dreaded disease called encephalitis - an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that can cause severe headaches, delirium, seizures, paralysis and coma.

The human and animal blood supplies nourishment to the female mosquito's eggs. Prior to laying eggs, the female mosquito usually searches for her victim, using subtlety to discover the presence of one. What specifically calls her attention to the presence of a human (or any warm-blooded animal) is the increased level of carbon dioxide in the air. The female mosquito is able to detect her victim by automatically responding to such physical stimuli, as the increasing moisture and temperature. While bare skin is an evident target, covering does not always discourage her from finding her mark.

We all hate the mosquito, I know. But let's have a closer look at this creature just the same: The mosquito is a member of the dipteran fly family. As such, it isn't capable of taking in solid food. Instead, it draws liquids into its mouth that's made up of needlelike parts which act as drinking straws. This is exactly how the mosquito sucks our (and our four-legged pets') blood up. Because, again, the mosquito is a member of the fly family, its lifecycle goes through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

The female mosquito prefers to lay her eggs in still water (this is the reason why people are always advised of doing something about any water accumulation in their yard that has remained stagnant for some time). Within a very short period of time, aquatic larvae (still without legs and wings) emerge from the floating eggs. These larvae survive by feeding on microorganisms. The larva uses the short duct at its tail to breathe air. It is able to hang upside down from the water surface by means of its tail which is made up of waterproof, hairlike structures. Once disturbed, the larva makes sharp, jerky strokes to break contact and wriggles into the water (that is why it's called a wriggler at this stage). When it senses that the danger has vanished, the larva floats up back to the water surface tail first.

At a certain point when the larva has become fully fed, it sloughs its skin off and manifests itself in the form of a pupa. This is the stage when the distinguishing qualities of the adult mosquito begin to develop. The pupa still appears like a larva, though with a larger head. It moves about very actively but does not feed. In a few days, the pupa's skin rips open and the much-abhorred adult mosquito finally comes into being. Instinctively, it flies off and seeks its very first victim.

If it is any consolation, the mosquito is not known to transmit the AIDS virus or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is so since the mosquito can't act as a host to HIV inasmuch as the virus is unable to grow inside the cells of the mosquito. And even if a mosquito bites someone who is infected with the AIDS virus and then bites you immediately after, the chances of your contracting this greatly-feared virus is virtually nil. This is because the amount of blood (in this case, HIV-infected blood) that is passed during a single mosquito bite is negligible. According to experts, it will take the simultaneous bites of thousands of mosquitoes for you to have a reason to worry. [Read the Original Article]