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Mosquito name comes from a Spanish word meaning “little fly”. Basically mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, similarly to bees. Generally, we believe that mosquitoes bite humans because they need to feed on human blood, but this is not true. Actually, female mosquitoes suck blood in order to help with the development of their eggs prior to laying them. Male mosquitoes do not feed on blood at all.
Although at times mosquitoes are dangerous because of their ability to carry and transmit diseases. But we can’t deny the fact that mosquitoes also play an important role in the ecosystem because they serve as a food source for many organisms.
Though very small in size, mosquitoes are perhaps the only predator that has thrived through the centuries, causing death through vector-borne diseases. In fact, it is counted among the world’s deadliest, killing more than seven lakh people each year.
To raise awareness and alertness regarding the diseases caused by mosquitoes, world mosquito day was observed on August 20 every year. This day is also a remembrance day for Sir Ronald Ross who discovered a connection between female mosquitoes and malaria. In 1897, Sir Ronald Ross’s discovered that Anopheles mosquitoes transmit the malaria parasite to humans.
World Mosquito Day 2022- Theme
World Mosquito Day was observed under the theme “Reaching the zero-malaria target”.
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World Mosquito Day 2022 – Significance
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
This special day is also observed to highlight and focus on the efforts of healthcare officials, NGOs, and others who are related to the field in fighting against the illness caused by malaria. Mostly, awareness is created in people around diseases caused by mosquitoes.
Apart from people dying of malaria, there are nearly 219 million people who are affected by the same worldwide each year, as per recent statistics. Also, malaria is present in more than 100 countries, they mostly affect tropical locations and areas around the world.
Among the many nations,India has become a favourable breeding place for many mosquito species making it the hotspot for diseases like dengue, yellow fever, malaria, and others.
World Mosquito Day 2022 – Facts
- The day is observed every year on the August 20th , to commemorate the discovery of the female Anopheles mosquito as the notorious vector for the transmission of Malaria, through the Plasmodium parasite, by the British Scientist Sir Ronald Ross.
- The day is celebrated every year at the Mosquito Center in ‘London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’, amidst wide fanfare of students, researchers and young scientists in honour of the pioneer scientist who discovered the fact.
- Mosquitoes are of different specie and the dreaded ones are the Anopheles ,Aede Aegyptiand Culex variants and they are regarded as creatures of International menace.
- Only female mosquitoes depend on blood for survival. Male mosquitoes feed on the nectar of flowers or other suitable sugar sources.
- The sharp proboscis that mosquitoes use to draw blood has inspired the design of improved, less painful hypodermic needles used in medicine.
- Unlike most bugs, mosquitoes aren’t attracted to light, but to carbon dioxide. This gives them the indication that a mammal with tasty blood is nearby.
- Male and female mosquitoes synchronize their wingbeats with their mates.
- Mosquitoes cause more deaths than any other animal on earth.
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World Mosquito Day 2022 – Quiz
