My observations on Mosquito
Apr 16, 2023 • 8:30 AM UTC
Badi Chowdi, Kachiguda, Hyderabad, Telangana 500095, India
140x Magnification
Insects and Arachnids
K.Ashalatha
Retired biology teacher. Previously I worked with TIFR as an outreach volunteer.
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It was almost 2:00 AM. I woke up suddenly due to stinging pain and based on the buzzing sound near my ears I understood it was the mosquitoes. Staying on the 9th floor of a high rise building with frequent pest control and mosquito fogging are not adequate methods of controlling mosquitoes.
For a few weeks my sleep was being disturbed by these mosquitoes. I tried killing them using an electric bat but, once I turned the lights on there were no mosquitoes around me, no matter how long I waited for them to come out. Suddenly, I saw a mosquito on my hand. It landed parallel to my hand. I assume it was Culex sp.While the initial reaction was to kill it, I changed my mind and instead started taking a video of it. No matter how much I shook my hand, it was busy piercing and sucking blood.
Five minutes later it had enough of my blood and removed its proboscis.
After shocking it to death, I wanted to observe my blood under a foldscope. I placed the mosquito gently on the depression slide and covered it with a cover slip and sealed it with cellophane carefully.
For a few weeks my sleep was being disturbed by these mosquitoes. I tried killing them using an electric bat but, once I turned the lights on there were no mosquitoes around me, no matter how long I waited for them to come out. Suddenly, I saw a mosquito on my hand. It landed parallel to my hand. I assume it was Culex sp.While the initial reaction was to kill it, I changed my mind and instead started taking a video of it. No matter how much I shook my hand, it was busy piercing and sucking blood.
Five minutes later it had enough of my blood and removed its proboscis.
After shocking it to death, I wanted to observe my blood under a foldscope. I placed the mosquito gently on the depression slide and covered it with a cover slip and sealed it with cellophane carefully.
Its stomach was filled with my blood.My blood cells were floating. I was sure it was my blood as mosquito blood has no color. I wanted to specifically observe its mouth part with which it pierced my skin. Under the foldscope, I saw many tubes which were interconnected.
Suddenly, I noticed rhythmic movement in the dorsal side of the mosquito. Oh! It was not dead. It was just under shock from the electric bat.
I assume the tubes which I saw were trachea because the circulatory system is an open system. I also noticed one organ which was in rhythmic movement. It could be the heart of the mosquito. Could I be right in my observations? Let me know your thoughts.
Next day I continued my observation with another mosquito. It took 9 minutes and 45 sec to fill its stomach. Here I am enclosing last seconds video. Watch how it was taking out and cleaning its proboscis.
With regards
K. Ashalatha.
Suddenly, I noticed rhythmic movement in the dorsal side of the mosquito. Oh! It was not dead. It was just under shock from the electric bat.
I assume the tubes which I saw were trachea because the circulatory system is an open system. I also noticed one organ which was in rhythmic movement. It could be the heart of the mosquito. Could I be right in my observations? Let me know your thoughts.
Next day I continued my observation with another mosquito. It took 9 minutes and 45 sec to fill its stomach. Here I am enclosing last seconds video. Watch how it was taking out and cleaning its proboscis.
With regards
K. Ashalatha.
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