General 10 fun facts about mosquitoes By Rucha Devarchetti Published: July 10, 2019 Updated: March 26, 2024 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Khlungcenter/Shutterstock Beware of the female Not all mosquitoes bite. Female mosquitoes are the ones who need the protein in human blood to form eggs. So the next time you are bitten, remember it's the female at work. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Achkin/Shutterstock They have really short lives Male mosquitoes barely live a fortnight. Female mosquitoes tend to live longer — approximately 6-8 weeks, if they live in wet, moist conditions. Hibernating female mosquitoes can live up to six months. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Kwangmooza/Shutterstock They fly really slowly You can try and win a race against a mosquito because they are really slow fliers. Their poor speed also means that mosquitoes don't travel too far from where they were hatched. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ThamKC/Shutterstock They can breed even in the slightest of water Just a litte pool of water — that's what it takes for an army of mosquitoes to breed. To avoid breeding grounds around you, try and keep open spaces dry and airy. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Khlungcenter/Shutterstock They are threatened by dragonflies and fish If you thought mosquitoes fear nothing, think again. Mosquitoes are threatened by the presence of fish in the water because fish tend to eat mosquito eggs. Apparently, young mosquitoes are also the favourite food of dragonflies. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Fotos593/Shutterstock You smell good to them especially on your worst days While we find sweat repelling, mosquitoes are attracted to it. Some of the odours that our skin produces is appealing to them, so you can therefore expect a few bites the next time you are out running. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Tunatura/Shutterstock They have been around for centuries Mosquitoes have existed for nearly 2500 years. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Tavizta/Shutterstock Dark clothing attracts them Dark clothing retains heat, which in turn attracts mosquitoes. Opt for light, summery colours when stepping outdoors into mosquito territory. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Nechaevkon/Shutterstock They are toothless Mosquitoes dont bite with their teeth, they use their proboscis. It pierces the skin and locates your blood which the mosquito then draws out. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Anest/Shutterstock Their name means 'a little fly' Mosquito is the Spanish word for a little fly. They are also famous as Mozzies in the land down under a.k.a. Australia. View in Fullscreen Related galleries 8 giant roadside landmarks to spot across Canada Meet 7 early risers of the wildlife world Perched on the Bay of Fundy, these curious, colourful cottages might be Nova Scotia’s best-kept secret 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 10 fun facts about mosquitoes Summer is full of buzz… from mosquitoes, that is. These pesky insects can sometimes take the fun out of warm summer nights by the lake. We gathered some interesting facts about the little creatures that will help you understand the buzz around them a little better. Related Story Electronic music could save you from mosquito bites