Page 66 - The Miracle in the Mosquito

THE MIRACLE IN THE MOSQUITO

The mosquito has a hairy body. On the head, wings and legs
there are scales like the scales of a butterfly.

The abdomen, which can withstand pressure
Mosquitoes’ bodies have a great capacity to expand when
sucking blood. They can suck an average of 2.8 mg (0.0001 ounce)
of blood in one go, which is greater than their average body
weight—2.5 mg (0.00008 ounce) (This is like someone weighing 70
kg (154 pounds) eating more than his or her own weight in food at
a time, and in a short space of time). How is it that an insect with
such a delicate build can drink its own weight in blood? What pre-
vents the mosquito from bursting to death from drinking such an
excess of blood?
As in other bloodsuckers, the mosquito has a specially de-
signed digestive system. There are tension sensors that tell mos-
quitoes when to suck blood and when to stop. These work in con-
junction with the digestive system.
The skin on the mosquito’s abdomen is composed of a flexi-
ble and transparent membrane. When blood is drawn in, this
membrane opens out to
enable the abdomen to ex-
pand. By this means the
mosquito can drink as
much blood as it pleases.
Experiments have
shown that if the tension
sensors in the mosquito’s
abdomen are removed, the
mosquito explodes from
sucking blood. In addition
Only female mosquitoes suck blood for the to all the systems pointed
purpose of providing nutrition to their eggs.
out so far, the existence of a
The male mosquito feeds on nectar and wa-
ter.

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