Mosquito 101
Mosquito 101 Links
Mosquito 101: Fun Facts
- The word “mosquito” means “little fly” in Spanish and Portuguese languages.
- In Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, mosquitoes are often called “mozzies”.
- Paleontologists found components of red blood cells in a 46 million year old fossilized mosquito.
- Mosquito fossils date back at least as far as 100 million years old and evidence suggests this insect existed during the Triassic Period- 400 million years ago.
- Most species of mosquitoes are generally very weak fliers traveling at speeds of 1 to 1.5 mph.
- There are over 3500 species of mosquitoes identified in the world. The United States has 190 species.
- Mosquitoes are considered to be the deadliest animal in the world. Statistics vary, but human deaths range from 800,000 to 2 million each year from this insect. They are responsible for the deaths of more humans than humans themselves.
- It is estimated that it would take 1.1 million mosquito bites to suck the blood from the average sized human.
- Mosquitoes wings beat 300-600 times per second.
- Finnish police found a dead mosquito in a stolen vehicle and used DNA testing of the blood to help identify the thief.
- In 1929, a “bat tower” was built in the Florida Keys to control mosquitoes. It was filled with bats, which promptly flew away never to return.
- Mosquitoes show a preference for people while they are consuming beer.
- It is reported that Iceland is the only nation in the world without mosquitoes.
- And finally, a study from 2015 shows the perfume “Victoria’s Secret Bombshell”, is actually a good repellent.