If we take a closer look, what is the structure of a mosquito’s body parts like? Do they have eyes, noses, mouths, etc.? Let’s examine this issue in the following article for a microscopic perspective!
The structure of a mature mosquito includes the following main parts:
Mosquito head
This is the area that contains the chemical, image, and thermal sensors. It also has the part of the proboscis used for sucking blood. The mosquito head is particularly characterized by two compound eyes, with a region of omission containing the base of the long antennae, which can be up to 15-16 segments long. Specifically, the root of the antennae of male mosquitoes has 15 segments, and that of female mosquitoes has 16 segments. Importantly, no species of mosquito has a simple eye. They use their antennae to sense chemicals.
The proboscis is also considered as the mosquito’s mouth, which contains six needle-like tubes that cause harm to us. However, only female mosquitoes use the proboscis to suck blood, while male mosquitoes use it to feed on nectar and plant juices.
Mosquito thorax
The thorax of a mosquito has a very simple external structure, consisting of three segments attached together, called the prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax. They have two wings and six legs, including two front legs, two middle legs, and two hind legs. The legs help them to anchor while feeding on plant sap for male mosquitoes and animal blood for female mosquitoes. The wings are very strong and help them to move easily in the air, but compared to other insects of the same size, they fly quite slowly.
Adult mosquitoes typically have a size ranging from 8 to 10mm. All species share common characteristics such as thin wings, small body, and long legs. The average speed that these small wings can reach is 1.5 – 2.5 km/h.
Inside the mosquito’s thorax is the location of the heart and some other nerve ganglia.
>> Frequently asked questions about mosquitoes
Mosquito abdomen
The abdomen of a mosquito contains the digestive system, excretory organs, and reproductive system. The back and abdomen are connected by a small membrane on both sides. The abdomen of a mosquito has fine hairs and scales. The last few abdominal segments are the reproductive organs of the mosquito.
Have you understood the different parts of the mosquito? If you find this information interesting, don’t forget to share it with others!