• Mosquito

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  Mosquito facts and information:

  Type: Bug
  Diet: Carnivore
  Average lifespan in the wild: 2 weeks to 6 months
  Size: 1/8 to 3/4 in (0.3 to 2 cm)
  Weight: Average 0.000088 oz (2.5 mg)
  Group name: Swarm
  Did you know? The red bump and itching caused by a mosquito bite is actually an allergic reaction to the mosquito’s saliva.

• Few animals on Earth evoke the antipathy that mosquitoes do. Their itchy, irritating bites and nearly ubiquitous presence can ruin a backyard barbecue or a hike in the woods. They have an uncanny ability to sense our murderous intentions, taking flight and disappearing milliseconds before a fatal swat. And in our bedrooms, the persistent, whiny hum of their buzzing wings can wake the soundest of sleepers.

• Mosquito video.
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  What does a mosquito look like?

  A mosquito is a flying insect, that has long legs and a thin body. Mosquitoes are quite a disgusting insect! The range of length and weight are great, but mosquitoes are normally quite small and less than 16 mm long and 2.5 mg in weight. Mosquitoes have six legs and a pair of translucent wings. The mosquito's head contains two compaud eyes and a pair of long antennae. The antennae are used by the mosquito to smell. The males have bushier antenna which include auditory receptors so they can hear female mosquitoes as they fly. The head also has an elongated tube called a proboscis that is used for feeding. Mosquitoes also have a pair of halteres, halteres stabilize the flight of the mosquito.
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  Where do mosquitoes live?

  Mosquitoes are present in all six of the major continents. The mosquito is a nocturnal insect, and flies during the evening and night. During the day, mosquitoes rest in the shade or other cool areas. However, a mosquito may still "bite" if disturbed. Mosquitoes lays their eggs in standing or slow-moving water. Weeds, tall grass, and bushes provide an outdoor home for adult mosquitoes.
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  What does a mosquito eat?

  Both male and female mosquitoes drink nectar from plants as their main source of food. In many species of mosquitoes however, the females drink blood! A female mosquito uses the blood to gain other nutrients for her eggs. Using the proboscis, the external organ for sucking up blood, the mosquito punctures the skin of its victim. After injecting a pain killer, it will suck up the blood. A mosquito has special saliva that keeps the blood it drinks from clotting. Many diseases, such as malaria, are spread by mosquitoes carrying infected blood.
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  How far can a mosquito fly?

  Depending on the species, adult mosquitoes can fly several miles with help from the wind. Culex pipiens has a travel range of up to three miles.
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  Why do mosquitoes make a buzzing noise?

  Mosquitoes flutter their wings very fast, some as much as 250 times per second, producing a high-pitched buzz.

• Mosquito images

  
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