Mosquito Bites

Colloquially termed as skeeters and mozzies, mosquitoes belong to the Culicidae family. Such insects have a single pair of scaled wings as well as a slender body and long legs. They also have halteres, which are known to be balancers or poisers that are little knobbed structures. The female species are the ones who suck out blood from humans and animals since they need it in the process of reproduction. Weighing only about 2.0 to 2.5 milligrams, their single flight can last up to 4 to 5 minutes.

Mosquitoes are believed known to be in existence 170 million years ago and even in the Jurassic period when dinosaurs existed. They progressed into the land mass that is presently identified as South America and initially spread to the northern continent of Laurasia. It was also said that the ancestors of these pesters that have been causing skin

itchiness were three times bigger and were related to the Chaoboridae group.

Mosquitoes are also known as nectar feeders. The breed of the Toxorhynchites is the biggest existing creature of its kind. Its larvae are predatory on others. In the English literature, their life can be traced back to 1583. They were identified as “biting flies” in order to brush off the confusion with the common “house flies.” In Italian, mosquito is “moschetta” while in French it is “moustique.” When mosquitoes sink their teeth into the skin, it will cause swelling for many hours. Then, there will be a red ringed white bump that is about a centimeter in width. The itchiness remains for days. When the itchy skin is overly scratched, it will bleed and will leave scars when healed.

Mosquitoes could