Mosquito | |
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Aedes aegypti: the vector of dengue fever and yellow fever | |
Scientific classification | |
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Family: | Culicidae |
Subfamilies | |
Diversity | |
43 genera |
A mosquito is a type of fly. It is the common name of a family of flies in the order Diptera.
The females are ectoparasites: they land on warm-blooded animals, pierce a capillary, and inject saliva to stop the blood coagulating. Then they suck up and eat the blood. Deadly microscopic parasites often live in the saliva.
The males are nectar-feeders, and so are the females. However, in preparation for egg-laying the females turn to blood for its protein.
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