Few animals on earth bug us more than mosquitoes do. Their itchy, irritating bites and presence can ruin a backyard barbecue or a day outside. They have an uncanny ability to sense our murderous intentions, taking flight and disappearing milliseconds before a fatal swat. And in our bedrooms, the persistent, whiny hum of their buzzing wings can wake the soundest of sleepers.
The Asian Tiger Mosquito, now found in NJ, is related to the transmission of the Zika Virus.
Beyond the nuisance factor, mosquitoes are carriers for some of humanity's most deadly illnesses, and they are public enemy number one in the fight against global infectious disease. Some of the diseases are West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, Malaria and Encephalitis, Dengue Fever and Yellow Fever.
And mosquitoes do not just infect humans. Our pets, particularly our dogs, cats and horses, are no exception. If bitten, they can become infected with life-threatening diseases like heartworm caused by the bite of a mosquito carrying the larvae of a roundworm, or equine encephalitis which comes from mosquitoes biting birds who carry the disease. Either of these diseases are potentially fatal.
The Northern House Mosquito, native to NJ, is responsible for the transmission of the West Nile Virus.
The Asian Tiger Mosquito isn't native to the US, but it has recently been spotted here. This mosquito is show feeding on a human.
Mosquitoes use exhaled carbon dioxide, body odors and temperature, and movement to home in on their victims which may be why some people are more often bothered or bitten by mosquitoes than others. Only female mosquitoes have the mouth parts necessary for sucking blood. When biting, they stab two tubes into the skin: one to inject an enzyme that inhibits blood clotting; the other to suck blood into their bodies. They use the blood not for their own nourishment but as a source of protein for their eggs. For food, both males and females eat nectar and other plant sugars from flowering plants. All mosquitoes need water to breed.
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