Project

in Science
Submitted by:

Patricia Ynna Eunice C. Capistrano

Grade 5

Submitted to:
Mrs.
Teacher
 Reproduction In Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are small ectoparasites that science says branched away from their
relatives the flies approximately 220 million years ago. Represented by more than 500
species worldwide in 31 genera, mosquitoes bite host animals and suck out tiny
amounts of blood. While biting a host animal, mosquitoes can transmit dangerous
diseases like malaria, Dengue fever and West Nile virus. The insects have a vital
reason to nibble; blood meal is required for reproduction in most species.

Mating and Eggs

Adult male mosquitoes consume only nectar; the female mosquitoes are the ones that
bite. After feeding on blood meal and mating, female mosquitoes lay their eggs in the
water. Generally, mosquitoes try to lay their eggs in small pools of water that do not
contain fish. While mosquito populations may be high around large bodies of water,
the egg-laying actually occurs in small, sheltered puddles of water along the edge.
Some species deposit their eggs in groups, termed rafts, while other species lay their
eggs individually in a number of spots.

Life Cycle
Mosquitoes exhibit four life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. After one to four days,
eggs hatch into larvae. They look like small, buoyant worms; colloquially they are
called wigglers. The larvae live in the water, straining organic mater from the water
column for sustenance, for up to 14 days. Mosquitoes then transform into pupae,
somewhat akin to caterpillars' cocoon, except that pupae are mobile. The pupa stage
persists for a few days until they transform into adults. The whole life cycle lasts
about a week for males; females may live as long as a month. Mosquitoes in the
aquatic life stages are consumed by fish, amphibians and larger insects; adults are
hunted by bats and dragonflies.

The Role of Blood

Blood is a good food source of sustenance for adult female mosquitoes, rich in protein
and packed with calories. Different mosquito species demonstrate varying details of
biochemistry. Some, like Aedes aegypti, have been studied extensively in the lab. The
exact physiological pathway connecting the ingestion of blood meal and egg
development and subsequent reproduction is poorly understood. In a 2012 study at the
University of California, Riverside, Alexander S. Raikhel discerned some of this
pathway, including the importance of small, non-coding sections of RNA, termed
microRNA, for egg development.

Diversity and Exceptions

Though mosquitoes share a surfeit of similarities, the diversity of the group produces
a few strange adaptations. Most mosquito larvae feed on small organic bits of
material, but larvae of the genus Toxorhynchites feed on other mosquito larvae. As
adults, mosquitoes of this genus displays another interesting adaptation: The females
consume nectar, rather than blood, just like the males do. Other mosquito genera
display strange behaviors as well; Anopheles larvae crawl up plant stems to pull
themselves out of the water in an effort to avoid predators.
 How do butterflies mate?
Male butterflies find females by sight, and use chemicals called pheromones at close range. If the
female accepts the male, they couple end to end and may go on a short courtship flight. They
may remain coupled for an hour or more, sometimes overnight. The male passes a sperm packet
called a spermatorphore to the female. The sperm then fertilize each egg as it passes down the
female's egg-laying tube.

Mating Leafwings (Hypna clytemnestra)

Reproduction in butterflies begins with courtship, during which the male vigorously flaps
its wings, releasing a dust of microscopic scales carrying pheromones above the female's
antennae. These male pheromones act as a sexual stimulant to the female. Some males release
additional pheromones from "hair pencils" under the abdomen. Female butterflies that are ready
to mate dispense with courtship. Some species, however, perform complicated courtship
maneuvers, probably to find a mate strong enough to endure the rigorous rituals, thereby
A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in Livonia, Michigan. The larvae of this
butterfly feed on the leaves of the milkweed, ingesting substances that make them toxic to birds
and other predators. Photograph by Robert J. Huffman. Field Mark Publications. Reproduced by
permission.
by increasing the chance of producing healthy offspring. Males usually must wait one or
two days after emerging from the chrysalis before they can mate, but then they may mate many
times. Females can mate immediately after emerging, some species mating several times.
However, it is the last male to mate that fertilizes the eggs. Females of some species mate once
only.