Wolbachia-Aedes Mosquito Suppression Strategy

Male Mosquitoes Do Not Bite or Transmit Disease

Male mosquitoes do not transmit disease

Male mosquitoes feed only on plant juices, such as nectar, to get the sugar they need for energy and survival. As males do not bite, they cannot transmit diseases.

Female mosquitoes feed on blood

Female mosquitoes, on the other hand, need protein from blood for the development of their eggs. To obtain blood, females seek out and bite hosts such as humans, and may transmit disease in the process.

Fun facts!

Using a microscope or magnifying glass, here are three ways you can tell harmless male mosquitoes apart from female foes:

  • Males are smaller than females
  • Compared to males, females have a more needle-like proboscis, which they use for biting
  • Males have bushy, hairy antennae, while the antennae of females are a lot less hairy

Difference between male and female mosquitoes