How does a mosquito differ from a mosquito? How mosquitoes differ from mosquitoes

You will hardly find the definition of a mosquito from the tropics in a serious scientific book or article, because there is no such definition, as well as a type of insect. We probably owe this popular name for mosquitoes to lazy scanword authors.

Basic information

Mosquitoes, like mosquitoes, belong to the subfamily of Diptera long-wattled insects, which need blood for reproduction. There are many types of such insects, in particular, more than 700 mosquitoes are known to science. Their sizes vary within 1.5-2 mm, but adults of certain species reach 3 mm in length. Color - from completely black to almost perfectly white.

Most mosquito species inhabit tropical and subtropical climates, but their actual range is larger than most of us would like. You can meet the mosquitoes Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia in Central Asia, in the south of Ukraine, in Moldova and in the Caucasus.

By analogy with our usual bloodsuckers, a tropical creature is completely harmless and feeds exclusively on plant pollen. But the female mosquito is forced to drink blood, without which she will not be able to lay eggs.

How do they differ from mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes also have characteristic differences from mosquitoes. For example, their larvae cannot live in water, with the exception of some species, and then only on initial stages growth. To reproduce, they need high humidity in the air, but an excess of water, on the contrary, is destructive. The larva dies upon constant contact with water, even with normal access to oxygen. But if it is removed from the water in time, then it will continue to grow and, almost without delay, will enter the adult stage ( adult).

Mostly female mosquitoes choose burrows of small rodents and bird nests, damp basements.

Why mosquitoes are dangerous

But the most unpleasant difference between mosquitoes is that they fly almost silently and it is impossible to notice the danger from the characteristic squeak.

A mosquito can be recognized only before a bite: before drinking blood, the insect makes 2-3 small jumps over the victim's body.

A female mosquito is capable of interrupting bloodsucking if frightened off and flying over to continue the banquet to the next victim. This is a very unpleasant property, since it increases the risk of transmission of infections: and these insects are carriers of pathogens of some infectious diseases. Mosquito bites are very painful and can result in prolonged burning sensation and fever.

Galileo. Mosquitoes: Video

A mosquito, which looks like a mosquito, is capable of causing great harm to human health, since this insect is a carrier of dangerous infectious diseases. However, their habitats are not as widespread and expanded as those of mosquitoes.

Appearance

Their color cannot be called bright, they are found in nature different colors and shades: from transparent white to dark brown. A mosquito can take on a different color if its body contains blood sucked from the "victim". Its legs and trunk are long.

Mosquitoes have black eyes and antennae on their heads. Distinctive feature of this insect is that at rest its folded wings are raised above the abdomen at an angle of 45 0. The entire body is covered with hair.

Despite the fact that mosquitoes have wings, they most often move by jumping. These insects fly poorly, and the maximum speed they develop is 4 m / s.

Mosquito development

Mosquito development occurs in 4 stages:

• Egg;
• Larva;
• Chrysalis;
• Imago.

An adult, a female mosquito begins to feed on blood in order to lay eggs. At normal times, this insect feeds on natural sugar. Males do not drink blood. The egg matures in 6 to 8 days. In total, the female lays from 30 to 60 eggs at a time. This process depends on the temperature around the future larva, the rate of blood digestion, and also on its type.

Scientists are still exploring the places where the female eggs are laid, after the future larvae are placed in a safe place - the female dies. The area favorable for breeding should be moist, cool, and nearby should be present organic matter... For example, in arid regions, mosquitoes were found in the burrows of wild animals, as well as in crevices in upper layers land.

Females can also lay eggs in water without harming future mosquitoes. Insects will be able to hatch in aquatic environment and live in it for up to 5 days, there are certain species that can live in water for up to 14 days. The larvae can then come to the surface. Without access to water for 24 hours, they die, which is why it is so important for them to exist in moist soil.

The transformation from a larva into a doll takes place en masse. At the same time, all insects of this species move to the next stage of development. This occurs in late spring or early summer.

The period of development and maturation of the pupa lasts several months, but the process can also drag on for a year. After the pupal stage is complete, the mosquito becomes an adult, and the females are ready to produce offspring. The adults feed on flower nectar.

Mosquito species, mosquito habitats

To date, researchers have more than 700 different types mosquitoes, many of which can carry infections. The most famous of them are:

• Phlebotomus;
• Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia).

These insects can be found in warm climates. They are common on almost all warm continents, but they were not found in New Zealand and the Pacific islands. The most favorite habitat is the tropics and subtropics. In Russia, mosquitoes live in the southern regions: in the Crimea, in the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories. They are also found in the tundra.

Females lay eggs in places close to other living things. Thus, insects do not have to look for food and go far to prey.

Mosquito bite

The bite of this insect can be compared to a mosquito. The mosquito finds an easily vulnerable spot on the victim's body, where it pushes its trunk. This process is facilitated by small mites installed on the proboscis - they push the skin tissue and integument apart. At the same moment, insect saliva is released.

In addition to the discomfort after being bitten, the mosquito can also cause more serious harm to humans, including the disease common in hot countries - phlebotoderma. This insect is capable of carrying such dangerous diseases:

• Fevers;
• bartonellosis;
• leishmaniasis.

Many studies have named mosquitoes the most dangerous insects in the world. It is estimated that mosquitoes infect hundreds of millions of people a year with malaria. They also carry a host of other diseases, including West Nile fever, yellow fever, and others. These reasons are enough to avoid mosquito bites (even if you do not take into account the itching after their bites). To defeat these little killers, you need to know where they live, what scares them off, how to kill them.

Steps

Part 1

Carry mosquito repellent with you. A variety of specially formulated repellents are available in stores. Apply them on exposed skin when you leave the house. Using sunscreen, apply it before insect repellent. A few of the most common are described below. chemicals to scare away mosquitoes:

Use natural remedies. Experiment with natural, natural remedies such as essential oil citronella (Cymbopogon nardus). It is also said that oil tea tree with vitamin B repels mosquitoes. As with any substance, their effectiveness depends on your skin type and the type of mosquitoes you are fighting. Note, however, that “alternative” drugs are not subject to the same testing as commercial drugs, so please read carefully. alternative means and read reviews of their use before spending money on them.

Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when leaving the house. One of better ways avoid mosquito bites - just get dressed. Wear shirts and pants that are long enough to cover your legs and arms. Also, keep your clothes as loose as possible. This serves two purposes: 1) it is more comfortable in hot, humid climates where mosquitoes thrive 2) mosquitoes can bite through tissue adjacent to the skin, especially through thin tissue.

• If your finances allow you, buy specially designed pants and shirts made from dense, lightweight material. This garment will provide maximum protection against mosquito bites when relatively high level comfort.
• For added protection, clothing can be treated with a repellent containing permethrin (do not spray permethrin on the skin).

1. Don't waste money on electric fly swatters. These devices effectively kill beetles, and even then only, as a rule, harmless. And the noise from these devices is unpleasant ... More efficient devices are those that use heat and carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes, and then trap the insects in containers or kill them with chemistry.

   Use a mosquito net over your bed while sleeping. The mosquito net has openings that allow air to circulate freely, but keep out mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects. Hang the netting over your bed, secure the top in one or more places so that it does not touch you. During sleep, do not touch the net with open parts of the body, mosquitoes can bite through the net. Check the mesh for holes and fix them with tape as needed.

   Part 2

   Avoid mosquito habitats.

   1. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are found on all continents — well, except for Antarctica. They mainly live in warm places with high humidity located closer to the equator. If you want to 100% avoid mosquito bites, do not visit countries with tropical climates.

      Stay away from bodies of stagnant water. Mosquitoes are attracted to water. Lakes, stagnant streams, wetlands, swamps are the habitat of mosquitoes, especially during the warmer months of the year. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, some have even adapted to lay their eggs in salt water. Staying away from stagnant water, be it a puddle or wide swamp, will reduce your risk of encountering mosquitoes.

      Don't let water stagnate near your home or your camp site. It is very easy to inadvertently create mosquito habitats and breeding grounds. For example, a paddling pool left in the summer sun for several days can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Get rid of any standing water near your home or campsite. If you have a pool, cover it up when not in use and treat the water with chemicals such as chlorine (according to the manufacturer's instructions). Here are some places where water can accumulate:

      • Old tires or production containers
      • Construction trenches, ditches
      • Pools
      • Lowlands
      • Clogged storm sewer

   2. Avoid visiting countries during the “mosquito season”. In the tropics, differences between seasons are minimal, so mosquitoes thrive all year round in warm climates. V temperate climates mosquitoes are active only during the warm season. During cold periods, mosquitoes hibernate and no new individuals emerge from the larvae. For example, parts of the American Midwest have cold, snowy winters during which there are no mosquitoes altogether, but there are also warm, humid summers when mosquitoes are plentiful. The “mosquito season” varies depending on the location on the world map and when the weather is warm and humid.

      • Floods are another seasonal factor that affects the mosquito population. Some places in the world, for example, the valley of the Egyptian river Nile, are periodically flooded. During floods, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water in large numbers.

   3. Don't overheat. This tip is especially important if you are in hot, humid climates. Hot bodies are attracted to mosquitoes, so don't sweat and get bitten. Do not wear dark clothes, they absorb Sun rays, light, on the contrary, partially reflects. Avoid excessive physical activity if possible. At physical exercise you are not only radiating warmth, but you are also breathing heavily. The carbon dioxide in the air you breathe out can be felt by mosquitoes at a fairly large distance.

   Part 3

   Kill every mosquito indoors

   Capture mosquitoes in the air. If you don't practice this often, it can feel difficult to do. The air from the movement of your hand flushes the mosquito away, or blows it out of your palm.

If you look closely, the mosquitoes in the photo look like a fat, clumsy mosquito. However, in terms of the consequences of their bites, they are much superior to their light-winged relative, primarily in that they spread much more diseases dangerous to humans.

On the other hand, the area where mosquitoes live is much narrower than that of a mosquito, so there is not always a danger of being bitten by this dangerous insect, one of which is shown in a very enlarged form in the next photo.

One type of mosquito

Biological characteristic

Mosquitoes belong to the subfamily of long-wattled Diptera insects, they are also referred to as the so-called gnus complex. They occupy a habitat in which there are practically no negative temperatures, that is, these are the tropics and subtropics. On the territory of the former Soviet Union these are the Crimea, the North and South Caucasus, part of the Stavropol Territory and the Kuban, the southern regions of Ukraine. In total, there are more than seven hundred species of mosquitoes, many of which carry various dangerous diseases, both for humans and animals.

Description

Mosquitoes are very small insects, rarely their body length exceeds two millimeters. The color gamut is also not saturated and varies in black and white from almost transparent to dark. The only thing that an insect can color is that drop of blood that it will suck out of the victim.

Nutrition

In the normal state, the larvae and adults of mosquitoes feed on natural juices and plant sugars. But for the development of egg-laying, the female is forced to feed on blood, in this respect, nature has laid some secret known to her. Apparently, plant food is not enough for the maturation of offspring.

Attention! Male mosquitoes, like mosquitoes, do not drink blood!

Reproduction

Mosquitoes breed on full cycle, that is, in their generation, a complete transformation takes place in stages:

• egg;
• larva;
• chrysalis;
• imago.

Unlike the well-known bloodworm, mosquito larvae that lives in water, the offspring of mosquitoes does not develop in water, but simply in a humid environment with optimal temperature from 25 to 30 degrees, depending on the species. Often their habitats are dung heaps, rodent burrows or poultry houses.

Difference from a mosquito

Many people mistakenly believe that these insects represent one family, only they are different in names, this is not the case, and the differences between mosquitoes and mosquitoes are significant. We have already mentioned some of the differences in our story, we will list how the mosquito still differs from the mosquito:

1. Let's start with a squeak, unlike a mosquito, mosquitoes do not squeak. After all, a nasty mosquito sound is made from the vibration of the wings, and fat mosquitoes do not really like to fly. In Italy, in this regard, they are even called "pappa tachi", which translates as: "biting in silence."
2. A sitting mosquito has wings folded at an angle to the body, while a mosquito is parallel to it.
3. Mosquitoes first fly to the victim and crawl over its body before biting, when like mosquitoes they move in small jumps.
4. The flight qualities of mosquitoes are unimportant, so it is much easier to swat them than fidgety and agile mosquitoes.

Harm

Now let's talk about the harmfulness that these small insects for a person. A mosquito bite is similar to a mosquito in the way it is committed. The insect also chooses the most vulnerable spot on the victim's skin and pushes its proboscis there, pushing the tissues apart and helping with gnawing mites at the tip of the proboscis. At the same time, the insect injects saliva with analgesics and anticoagulants into the canal.

Moreover, in the picture we presented the mildest version of the consequences of bites. Depending on the type of mosquito and personal intolerance, skin lesions can be significant. And in addition to the obvious symptoms from mosquito bites, such as burning or scabies, you can face bigger troubles.

Mosquitoes are carriers of such dangerous diseases as:

• leishmaniasis;
• bartonellosis;
• mosquito fever.

In addition, mosquito bites often cause such dangerous skin lesions as phlebotoderma.

Protection

On air

Inhabitants middle lane Russia and the inhabitants of the regions of the country with a more severe climate, meeting with mosquitoes can only threaten during tourist trips to "warm countries". To protect yourself on vacation, you must undergo the vaccination recommended for visiting a specific area, and also remember about basic means of protection against mosquitoes and mosquitoes:

• Use of special gels, ointments and aerosols before going out into the open air. You need to process all open areas of your body.
• Try not to leave the premises at the time of morning and evening twilight - the favorite time for insects to leave.
• When outdoors, try to stay away from damp areas, stagnant ponds, or swamps, especially in cool weather.
• Wear loose clothing that covers the body as much as possible - wide shirts, loose pants.
• Try not to overheat or sweat; for this, choose clothes light colors and also reduce your time outdoors.

In the House

To protect your home, you need to use mosquito blockers:

• Mosquito nets;
• gauze;
• rare fabric or tulle.

How to get rid of mosquitoes in the house if they have already got there? The simplest aerosol products, like the well-known "Dichlorvos", will help.

If you have a swimming pool in your house or area, do not let the water in it stagnate and begin to "bloom". This will attract dangerous insects to the site, and then it will take a lot of trouble to get rid of the mosquitoes.

In addition to all kinds of chemical or ultrasonic methods, which are so popular nowadays, remember that the person himself is the best mosquito killer. You can just handle the trouble if:

• catch an insect;
• smack it with a newspaper or a special firecracker;
• slap it between your palms;
• cover on the surface of a table or other piece of furniture with a cup or glass.

When catching and killing mosquitoes by hand, do not let them bite you, otherwise the whole hunt may become useless.

Advice! You need to destroy all the mosquitoes in the room to the last, and then take measures to protect the room from re-intrusion.

After being bitten

Consider what to do if bitten by a mosquito. Of course, it is better not to bring it to this, but once it happened, we must be ready to deal with the consequences of the bite.

1. V mandatory it is necessary to wash the bite site with soap and water.
2. Apply ice or a cool object.
3. You can use a cut of fresh vegetables or fruits, the juice of which can disinfect the wound: onions, tomatoes.
4. Use solution baking soda or boric alcohol.

In case of severe individual intolerance or danger, catch infection- consult a doctor immediately. Sometimes adults are embarrassed to contact medical institution with a trifling pimple, but this is fraught with great danger. Don't mess with own health, and especially carefully and impeccably take all the necessary measures if a child has been bitten.

By the way! Suriname, the state in the north of South America, where the famous Dutch footballer and coach Ruud Gullit comes from, still exists today. the death penalty mosquitoes. Naked convicts are tied to poles in places teeming with mosquitoes.

As a curtain, look at how a mosquito bites a person's hand:

In the Russian-speaking space, there are two opinions about mosquitoes. First: mosquitoes are the same, only in English. Second: mosquitoes are not mosquitoes, but they only live in southern countries... Both of these opinions are wrong.

The habitat of mosquitoes

The vast majority of mosquito species actually live in the tropical and subtropical zones of the planet. But this circumstance does not save the inhabitants of Eurasia from these bloodsuckers. Two genera: Sergentomyia and Phlebotomus live in the Palaearctic zone, which covers the entire Eurasian continent. Eurasian mosquitoes live in both the tundra and arid regions of the continent. Species living in deserts and semi-deserts have adapted to breed in animal burrows and caves. Some species can reproduce in fruits. One of the species lays eggs in figs.

Why not mosquitoes

To understand who mosquitoes are and why they are not mosquitoes, you will have to delve a little deeper into scientific classification... Mosquitoes and mosquitoes belong to the same order: Diptera. Further, their paths diverge. start with "pedigree". Mosquitoes belong to the mosquito family, mosquitoes belong to the butterfly family.

On a note!

All blood-sucking flying insects, even the largest ones, are included in the "gnat complex".

Butterflies are small blood-sucking insects that look like small moths. Because of this, the family got its name. Below is a photo of a butterfly.

The mosquito, not belonging to the mosquito family, looks more like a mosquito than a butterfly. A photo of a mosquito and an ordinary mosquito will help to compare them.

The difference between a mosquito and a mosquito is clearly shown in the table.

On a note!

An adult female mosquito makes several jumps over the victim's body before being bitten.

Some of the species of the Eurasian genus phlebotomus are synanthropic, that is, they have adapted to live next to humans. In the city, the places where mosquitoes of these species live may be damp basements. In nature, most often bloodsuckers of this species are found in the dense shade of bushes or undergrowth. The larvae, although they do not live directly in the water, need soil saturated with moisture. In the absence of direct contact with water, they die within 24 hours.

Reproduction

9 days after the bloodsucking session, the female lays 30-60 eggs. The whole life cycle, from egg to adult mosquito (adult) takes about 7 weeks. The larva that emerged from the egg after a week molts 4 times. In total, the growth process to the pupal stage takes an average of 1 month. After the 4th stage, the larva pupates and after 11 days an adult insect emerges from the egg.

On a note!

The larvae feed on rotting organic debris.

But if we take into account not just the active phase of the life of bloodsuckers, but their adaptability to unfavorable climatic conditions, then the question of how long mosquitoes live is no longer so unambiguous. If the timing of development was strictly observed, the mosquitoes would become extinct within one year. They have been living since the Cretaceous and are not going to disappear.

The secret here lies in the diapause characteristic of many Palaearctic species. Imagoes freeze out in winter, regardless of when they reached the adult stage - 2 months or 2 days before frost. The larvae of the fourth stage of development, capable of falling into suspended animation, “leave” for wintering.

Interesting!

Diapause is a condition in which all processes in the body proceed very slowly.

The appearance of adult insects in summer immediately in large quantities is also explained by diapause. Released from suspended animation in late May - early June, the larvae pupate almost simultaneously. The emergence of adults from pupae also occurs at the same time.

The harm and benefits of mosquitoes

Traditional opinion: there is no benefit from bloodsuckers, only harm. In fact, these small flyers, together with other similar insects, form the base of the food pyramid in any ecosystem: forest, desert, city, etc. Many species of birds, amphibians, reptiles and animals feed on adults. The larvae, processing organic matter rotting in the ground, contribute to the inexhaustibility of the soil.

But the harm to a person from them can be tangible. Mosquito bites are painful. When bitten, a bloodsucker sprays saliva with substances that prevent blood clotting into the wound.

On a note!

If the victim has an allergy, the bite site swells a lot at best. At worst possible fatal outcome... Even for those who do not suffer from allergies, mosquito bites turn red, swell and itch for a long time. When combing, there is a great chance of introducing an infection into the wound.

In hot regions, as a result of the sensitivity of the human body to mosquito bites, phlebotoderma can develop. This reaction to bites is expressed in a rash all over the body of itchy nodules.

Pappatachi fever is one of the most dangerous diseases. Distributed in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Middle East, Indochina and East Africa. It is carried by mosquitoes called fever. What do phlebotomus pappatachi mosquitoes look like:

• size 2-3 mm;
• the color is pale yellow;
• wings and body covered with light long bristles.

The bites of this type of bloodsucker are painless; a person does not notice that he has been attacked by a pappa mosquito. For this reason, you can not attach importance to the symptoms of an incipient disease.

Mosquito control methods

Methods of struggle in in this case the same as with mosquitoes and flies:

• mechanical:
• chemical.

Mechanical methods include installing screens on windows. Apart from flywashers, which are ineffective. It should be borne in mind that the cells of the mosquito net should be smaller than that of. To get rid of the dampness in basements, it is enough to monitor the health of the water supply and sewer pipes... Piles of organic waste must not be allowed to accumulate in the surrounding area. This perfect place for breeding mosquitoes.

TO chemical methods include the treatment of territory and premises with any types of insecticides. This also includes substances specially designed for use in the bedroom at night, evaporating substances that scare away bloodsuckers.

The one that needs to be ignited is for outdoor use.

When going out into nature, ointments are often used. It has been noticed that the smell of citrus fruits repels mosquitoes well.

In urban environments, mosquitoes are often found in homes with damp cellars... To get rid of these insects, you will have to contact the housing company with the requirement to repair the leaking pipes and carry out pest control. Observing cleanliness and order on the territory, you can get rid of mosquitoes. Their maximum flight limit is 1.5 km, usually they cover distances of no more than 25 m.