This imago of Aedes aegypti female emerged from a pretty putrid pond water sample. It is an invasive specie not frequent in my area, so I didn't want to allow it flying free.
1- First I portrayed it inside a glass covered Petri dish with the Nikon AZ100, Plan Apo 1X (1.5X on sensor)
After dying I opened the external proboscis (labium) longitudinally to show the biting retractable inner proboscis (labrum + maxila)
2- internal and external proboscis (DIC 10X Pl Fluotar, 25X on sensor)
3- internal proboscis: both parts make what seems a micro mouth although it is a much more sophisticated drilling machine (DIC 16X Pl Fluotar, 40X on sensor)
Sorry for the poor images
Much better images and info at scientific sources like: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The ... _325223613
Mosquito biting machine
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
- rjlittlefield
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Re: Mosquito biting machine
This is really nicely done!
The article at researchgate is no longer online.
But in searching, I found https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/06/07/480653821/watch-mosquitoes-use-6-needles-to-suck-your-blood which has nice accessible detail about the structure and some of the function of the inner proboscis.
What motivated my search was the live female mosquito in my kitchen this morning. Given the difficulty of studying these beasts, I think I'll just admire other people's photos!
--Rik
The article at researchgate is no longer online.
But in searching, I found https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/06/07/480653821/watch-mosquitoes-use-6-needles-to-suck-your-blood which has nice accessible detail about the structure and some of the function of the inner proboscis.
What motivated my search was the live female mosquito in my kitchen this morning. Given the difficulty of studying these beasts, I think I'll just admire other people's photos!
--Rik
Re: Mosquito biting machine
Hi Pau,
Very nice
BTW, I have tried to take some photos of the proboscis too:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=43812
Best, ADi
Very nice
BTW, I have tried to take some photos of the proboscis too:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=43812
Best, ADi
Re: Mosquito biting machine
Adi,
your mosquito study is excellent, I didn't see your two proboscis details pictures that are really at another level ( viewtopic.php?p=276428#p276428 )
your mosquito study is excellent, I didn't see your two proboscis details pictures that are really at another level ( viewtopic.php?p=276428#p276428 )
Pau
- Robert Berdan
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Re: Mosquito biting machine
Very interesting photos - I had the opportunty to study the probosics with an SEM as well - the fine hairs are interesting.
Cheers
Rob
Cheers
Rob