Page 42 - The Miracle in the Mosquito

THE MIRACLE IN THE MOSQUITO

for a short time because it has to come up to the surface to breathe.
For this reason, it is impossible to feed by diving in this way.
A very important mechanism present in the larva allows it to
eat head-down in the water. Thanks to this mechanism, the larva,
which cannot go after its prey, agitates the water and brings prey
to its mouth. It creates a current in the water by the rapid shaking
of the 4 sets of fine-haired brushes on either side of its mouth.
Bacteria found in the water are thus guided into the larva’s mouth
by the motion of the water. The larva also eats the bacteria that get
stuck in these brushes. A mosquito larva can sieve about 100-1,000
cc of water a day by this method.
As we have seen, there is an evident design in the larva: the
brushes around its mouth are special feeding tools. Thanks to this
system the larva can reach its prey without drowning. In His

Respiratory tube

The brushes
that direct the larva’s food
into its mouth

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