The Mosquito Book. Brett Ortler

      

      Dedication

      For my parents, and my sister, Emily

      Acknowledgments

      I’m grateful for the Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit and their vast array of mosquito-related literature. PLOS ONE and Malaria Journal are very useful sources of information, as is the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed database. The CDC’s website is also a wonderful resource, as is the CDC’s Public Health Image Library.

      Special thanks to Sandy Brogren, chief entomologist at the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, for reviewing the book for accuracy.

      Book and cover design by Lora Westberg

      Photo credits are listed on page 142.

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

      Copyright 2014 by Brett Ortler

      Published by Adventure Publications, Inc.

      820 Cleveland Street South

      Cambridge, MN 55008

      1-800-678-7006

       www.adventurepublications.net

      All rights reserved

      Printed in China

      ISBN: 978-1-59193-488-2

      Disclaimer: When using insecticides or repellents, it is your responsibility to always read and follow the instructions on the label, and to use the products in an appropriate manner. Always consult with a doctor prior to selecting an insecticide or repellent or if you have questions about how to use a product or the correct concentration to choose. This book is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.

      If you suspect someone has inadvertently absorbed, ingested or inhaled an unhealthy amount of any insecticide or repellent, call 911 and your local Poison Control Center. To reach one, dial: 1-800-222-1222.

      Table of Contents

       Frequently Asked Questions

       Introduction

       The Basics

       What Are Mosquitoes?

       Mosquito Anatomy

       Total Number of Mosquito Species Worldwide

       Number of Species in the Continental United States

       The Mosquitoes to Worry About: The “Flying Syringes”

       What’s in a Name?

       Even Mosquito Researchers Get Annoyed at Mosquitoes

       Four Phases of Life

       Where Do Mosquitoes Lay Eggs? Pretty Much Everywhere

       Floodwater Mosquitoes

       Freshwater and Stagnant Water Mosquitoes

       Eggs: Laid Alone or Together?

       Waiting It Out: Dormancy

       The Eggs Hatch and Larvae Emerge

       Let’s Go Snorkeling!

       Pupation: Real-Life Transformers

       Surprise, Adult Mosquitoes Are Vegetarians!

       Mosquito Mating: Music (and Dancing) in the Swarm

       Hibernation/Overwintering

       Honing In

       Heat, Humidity, Movement and Dark Clothing

       On the Clock

       It’s Not Paranoia If Bloodsucking Insects Are Really After You

       A Mix of Microbes

       The Problem of Beer

       Mosquito Immunity and Natural Repellents

       “Stress” May Be Best

       The Perfect Swarm

       Warp Speed, Mr. Sulu!

       Target Acquired: Pregnant Women

       The Bite: What Happens When a Mosquito Finds You

       How They Bite

       Mosquitoes Have a Big Pouty Lip. Really!

       The Bite Itself is Actually Painless

       Mosquitoes, Star Trek and Microneedles

       Pumping Blood

       Eating Overload

       Population Density: How Many Mosquitoes Are There on an Average Night?

       The Worst Party Ever: An (Involuntary) Blood Drive

       Exsanguination: The Worst-Case Scenario

       Pity the Caribou

       Watch Out for Grandma Skeeter!

       Once Bitten

       Why Some Years Are Worse Than Others

       The Genetics of Vulnerability to Mosquitoes

       Mosquitoes as Disease Vectors: Flying Syringes

       Malaria: A Deadly Package Delivered by a Mosquito

       Attack of the Clones