Life Cycle and Disease Transmission Potential of Mosquitoes

In this video, the morphological differences between male and female mosquitoes are explained, with emphasis on the larger size of female mosquitoes and the bushier appearance of male mosquitoes due to finer hairs on their antennae.

The importance of mosquitoes in disease transmission is discussed, with three criteria mentioned for determining their potential role in transmission: susceptibility to infection, population size, and feeding preferences. The life cycle of mosquitoes is also described, including the aquatic stage for larvae and eggs, and the territorial stage for adults. Female mosquitoes lay eggs on water surfaces or container walls, and the larvae hatch and consume organic matter in the water, undergoing several molts before transforming into pupae. Adult mosquitoes emerge from pupae, mate, take blood meals, rest, and lay eggs to complete the life cycle. The duration of the life cycle is associated with temperature, with higher temperatures shortening the duration and increasing mosquito abundance, which enhances the probability of disease transmission.

Review Questions:

• What is the major difference between male and female mosquitoes?
• How do female mosquitoes obtain the blood meal they need for laying eggs?
• What are the three criteria for determining the potential role of mosquitoes in disease transmission?
• What is the duration of the mosquito life cycle, and how is it affected by temperature?
• Why do female mosquitoes lay their eggs on water surfaces or container walls?