Knowra Mosquito Mosquito A mosquito is a slender, long-legged fly in the family Culicidae. Females of many species take blood meals, and some transmit pathogens to humans and other animals.
Mosquito life cycle : The sequence of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages in a mosquito’s development. Its aquatic immature stages and flying adults occupy sharply different habitats.
Insecticide-treated bed net : A bed net treated with insecticide to protect sleepers from biting mosquitoes. It blocks mosquito contact while killing or deterring mosquitoes that reach the net.
Aedes aegypti : A tropical and subtropical mosquito that transmits dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. Its close association with people makes it a major urban disease vector.
Midge : A small fly in several families, including non-biting midges and biting midges. Midges may resemble mosquitoes, but they are not members of Culicidae.
Mosquito proboscis : The elongated mouthpart mosquitoes use to take nectar or, in females of many species, blood. Its piercing and feeding structures enable blood meals.
Indoor residual spraying : The application of long-lasting insecticide to indoor surfaces where disease-carrying mosquitoes rest. It targets adult mosquitoes resting on treated walls and ceilings.
Anopheles gambiae : A major African malaria-vector species within the Anopheles gambiae complex. It is among the most consequential mosquito vectors of human malaria.
Crane fly : A long-legged fly in the family Tipulidae, often mistaken for a giant mosquito. Crane flies do not have the mosquito’s blood-feeding behavior.
Mosquito saliva : A mixture of molecules secreted during mosquito feeding, including substances that affect blood clotting and host responses. Saliva enters the host during a bite and can carry pathogens.
Larvicide : A substance used to kill insect larvae before they become adults. Treating breeding water can interrupt mosquito development before flight and biting begin.
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