Classification: Kingdom Animalia; Phylum Arthropoda; Class Insecta; Order Diptera ("two wings"); Family Culicidae.

The name mosquito is derived from the Spanish musketas, which means “little fly”.

The mosquito is a member of the family Culicidae; these insects have a pair of scaled wings, a pair of halteres, a slender body, and long legs. The females of most mosquito species suck blood from other animals. Size varies but is rarely greater than 15 mm (0.6 inch). Mosquitoes weigh only about 2 to 2.5 mg. They can fly at about 1.5 to 2.5 km/h (0.9 to 1.6 mph) and most species are nocturnal.

The head of a mosquito is equipped with a projecting proboscis which conceals and protects the long piercing and sucking mouthparts.

Some mosquitoes can be extremely harmful to humans and animals. They transmit malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue fever, and dog heartworms.

In addition to being disease vectors, mosquitoes can cause major disruptions, through their persistent biting, to occupational, recreational and social activities.

Water is essential for the development of the mosquito, which goes through complete metamorphosis – egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The egg is laid by the adult female directly on the water’s surface or on a solid structure that is subject to flooding. Eggs laid on a structure will not hatch until flooded and can remain viable for several years waiting for water. Eggs may be laid singly or in floats.

Many insects feed on mosquito eggs (e.g. cockroach) so out of the 100-400 eggs laid by a female, only a few adults develop successfully.

Some species are active only at dusk, while others are active during the day. Only the females seek blood, which they need as a protein source to produce eggs. Males as well as females feed on flower nectar or plant juices for energy.

Adult mosquitoes provide a food source for bats, birds and dragonflies.

The HIV virus is treated as food by the mosquito gut and is digested, completely destroying any possibility of viral reproduction. Since the virus does not survive to reproduce and invade the salivary glands, the mechanism that most mosquito-bourne parasites use to get from one host to another is not possible with HIV.

Often the best mosquito "repellent" is a fan or gentle breeze as mosquitoes do not like moving air.

Discover more as you explore!

Further Information:

Einsteins-emporium:

http://www.einsteins-emporium.com/life/animal-info/insects/1-intro_to_insect_orders.htm

Mosquito Anatomy:
http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Wetlands/Mosquito/MosqAnatomy.html

Mosquito photos:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/areas/arbovirus/mosquit/photos/mosquitophotos.htm