There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes found worldwide, and 120 found in the United States. Mosquitoes are an annoyance because of their parasitic nature. They also can be a serious health hazard due to their ability to transmit blood borne parasites that cause disease.
What people might not know is the role these bites play in the mosquito biological cycle. Female mosquitoes require a blood meal to develop fertile eggs. Males, not having eggs, do not need blood meals and thus do not bite. The welts that result from mosquito bites happen because females inject saliva under the skin of hosts to prevent blood from clotting as it is sucked into the food canal. When people are allergic to the saliva, itchy welts are produced. (Read More …)