Can There Be a Creature More Unpopular Than the Mosquito?

Generally regarded with extreme repugnance for being a bloodsucker, the mosquito is without much doubt the most unpopular creature in the world. For centuries, people have tried to exterminate mosquitoes, swatting at or poisoning them. But all these serious attempts at eliminating the mosquito have been futile, and this nuisance continues to flourish. What's even more worrisome is that since mosquitoes thrive best under humid and warm conditions, some of the species that are known to carry certain diseases may even spread with the increased oceanic and atmospheric temperatures of the earth.

It is a known fact that only the female mosquito feeds on the blood of both humans and animals (the male mosquito is considered completely harmless, feeding only on plant nectar). Some female species are known bearers of serious or even deadly diseases, including yellow fever and malaria. The latter is widely prevalent in the tropics since the greatest number of malaria-carrying mosquitoes are found in this region. With global warming, however, these particular species are moving up north. In worse, though rare, cases, some mosquito species can transmit the dreaded disease called encephalitis - an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that can cause severe headaches, delirium, seizures, paralysis and coma.

The human and animal blood supplies nourishment to the female mosquito's eggs. Prior to laying eggs, the female mosquito usually searches for her victim, using subtlety to discover the presence of one. What specifically calls her attention to the presence of a human (or any warm-blooded animal) is the increased level of carbon dioxide in the air. The female mosquito is able to detect her victim by automatically responding to such physical stimuli, as the increasing moisture and temperature. While bare skin is an evident target, covering does not always discourage her from finding her mark.