5 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Mosquitoes

1. Only Female Mosquitoes Bite
Many people think all mosquitoes bite, but actually, it’s only the females. They need the protein in blood to help their eggs grow. Male mosquitoes don’t bite at all and they prefer the sweet nectar of flowers.

2. They Can Spread Serious Illnesses
Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying. They can carry and spread serious diseases like malaria, dengue fever, the Zika virus, and West Nile virus. Every year, millions of people get sick from mosquito bites.

3. They’re Drawn to Our Breath
Mosquitoes find people mostly by sensing the carbon dioxide we breathe out. That’s why those who breathe more heavily like people exercising or pregnant women, tend to attract more mosquitoes. Body warmth and certain body smells also pull them in.

4. They Can Travel Far
Even though they’re small, mosquitoes are strong flyers. Some can travel many miles from where they hatched, especially if the wind helps them along.

5. They’ve Been Around for Millions of Years
Mosquitoes are ancient insects. They’ve been around for over 100 million years, long before humans and there are more than 3,000 different species of them today.