Mosquitoes are more than just annoying pests that bite us and make us itch. They are also vectors of many pathogens that can cause serious diseases in humans and animals. According to the World Health Organization, mosquito-borne diseases cause millions of deaths and billions of dollars in losses every year. Some of the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes include malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Zika, West Nile virus, and Chikungunya. These diseases can have severe consequences such as fever, headache, bleeding, birth defects, neurological damage, and even death.
Mosquitoes have different behaviours depending on their species, sex, and environmental conditions. Only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals to obtain blood, which they need to produce eggs. Male mosquitoes feed on nectar and other plant juices. Mosquitoes are attracted to their hosts by various cues, such as carbon dioxide, body heat, odour, and movement. Mosquitoes are more active at dawn and dusk, but some species can bite at any time of the day or night.
Other than being recognised as one of the important urban pests, mosquitoes are crucial for the ecosystem, as they provide food for many animals, such as fish, frogs, birds, and bats. They also pollinate some plants and help recycle nutrients.
