Dedication
For my parents, and my sister, Emily
Acknowledgments
I’m grateful for the Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit and their vast array of mosquito-related literature. PLOS ONE and Malaria Journal are very useful sources of information, as is the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed database. The CDC’s website is also a wonderful resource, as is the CDC’s Public Health Image Library.
Special thanks to Sandy Brogren, chief entomologist at the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, for reviewing the book for accuracy.
Book and cover design by Lora Westberg
Photo credits are listed on page 142.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Copyright 2014 by Brett Ortler
Published by Adventure Publications, Inc.
820 Cleveland Street South
Cambridge, MN 55008
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All rights reserved
Printed in China
ISBN: 978-1-59193-488-2
Disclaimer: When using insecticides or repellents, it is your responsibility to always read and follow the instructions on the label, and to use the products in an appropriate manner. Always consult with a doctor prior to selecting an insecticide or repellent or if you have questions about how to use a product or the correct concentration to choose. This book is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.
If you suspect someone has inadvertently absorbed, ingested or inhaled an unhealthy amount of any insecticide or repellent, call 911 and your local Poison Control Center. To reach one, dial: 1-800-222-1222.
Table of Contents
Total Number of Mosquito Species Worldwide
Number of Species in the Continental United States
The Mosquitoes to Worry About: The “Flying Syringes”
Even Mosquito Researchers Get Annoyed at Mosquitoes
Where Do Mosquitoes Lay Eggs? Pretty Much Everywhere
Freshwater and Stagnant Water Mosquitoes
The Eggs Hatch and Larvae Emerge
Pupation: Real-Life Transformers
Surprise, Adult Mosquitoes Are Vegetarians!
Mosquito Mating: Music (and Dancing) in the Swarm
Heat, Humidity, Movement and Dark Clothing
It’s Not Paranoia If Bloodsucking Insects Are Really After You
A Mix of Microbes
The Problem of Beer
Mosquito Immunity and Natural Repellents
“Stress” May Be Best
The Perfect Swarm
Warp Speed, Mr. Sulu!
Target Acquired: Pregnant Women
The Bite: What Happens When a Mosquito Finds You
Mosquitoes Have a Big Pouty Lip. Really!
The Bite Itself is Actually Painless
Mosquitoes, Star Trek and Microneedles
Pumping Blood
Eating Overload
Population Density: How Many Mosquitoes Are There on an Average Night?
The Worst Party Ever: An (Involuntary) Blood Drive
Exsanguination: The Worst-Case Scenario
Pity the Caribou
Watch Out for Grandma Skeeter!
Once Bitten
Why Some Years Are Worse Than Others
The Genetics of Vulnerability to Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes as Disease Vectors: Flying Syringes
Malaria: A Deadly Package Delivered by a Mosquito
Attack of the Clones