5 Fascinating Facts About Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are one of the most hated and pervasive creatures on the planet. But all that hatred aside, they are a fascinating and impressive species.

Here are 5 fascinating facts about mosquitoes:

1. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth

Yes. More than lions and tigers and bears. The WHO estimates that mosquitoes kill more than 700,000 people a year ^[1]

They are responsible for more deaths per year than any other animal. This is because by biting you, they can transmit deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever.

2. There are over 3,500 species of mosquito on Earth

3,500 species ^[4] is a lot of different mosquitoes to look out for! Here in the United States, we have over 200 types of mosquitoes ^[2]. Texas has the most species, with 85 different kinds of mosquitoes ^[3] (everything is bigger in Texas).

3. Mosquitoes are found on every continent except Antarctica

Most mosquitoes will die or go dormant at temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit ^[4]. Given that, even during the summer, Antarctica temperatures never consistently stay above that 50-degree threshold, a mosquito population cannot survive there.

4. Only female mosquitoes bite

That's right. Male mosquitoes won't bite you. ^[6] Both female and male mosquitoes can live by licking sugary substances such as the nectar of flowers.

So why do female mosquitoes bite in the first place? They require blood to produce eggs.

5. Mosquito eaters don't eat mosquitoes

And Mosquito Eater isn't even its real name! Its real name is a crane fly. But that doesn't stop people from calling them anything from "mosquito eater" to "mosquito hawk" to "big mosquito."

Over the years, the humble cranefly has built a reputation as a lethal mosquito eater. But in fact, they do not consume mosquitoes at all. Interestingly, their mouth doesn't even have any biting parts. They survive by drinking nectar.

References

1. World Health Organization. "Vector-borne diseases." https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases . Published March 2, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2024.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Mosquitoes in the United States." https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/mosquitoes-in-the-us.html. Published March 5, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2024.
3. Texas A&M. "Mosquitoes of Texas." https://www-aes.tamu.edu/mosquitoes-of-texas/. Published June 6, 2010. Accessed March 6, 2024.
4. Central Mass Mosquito Project. "Where do mosquitoes go in the winter?" https://www.cmmcp.org/mosquito-information/faq/where-do-mosquitoes-go-winter. Accessed March 6, 2024.
5. Frances M. Hawkes and Richard J. Hopkins. "Mosquitopia: The Place of Pests in a Healthy World." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585164/. Published September, 2021. Accessed March 6, 2024.
6. The Rockefeller University. "Why male mosquitoes leave humans alone." https://www.rockefeller.edu/news/30149-male-mosquitoes-leave-humans-alone/. Published February 19, 2021. Accessed March 6, 2024.