This paper proposes to investigate the close relationship between human blood and the reproductive success of the mosquito Aedes Aegypti. We want to explore whether a particular type of human blood has a positive correlation with mosquito fertility and survival. Before we begin the experiment, it is important to know some vital background information about this insect.
The A.Aegypti mosquito is a fascinating insect that has created vast interest among entomologists around the world to investigate its complex physiology that affects human lives detrimentally. It is well known that A.Aegypti is a vector for blood-borne pathogens, with dengue fever and Yellow fever being the most common. (Gizmag)The Dengue Virus is responsible for the creation of the Dengue Fever, which is a tropical disease that causes fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. (Dengue Fever Wikipedia) On the other hand, the Yellow Fever virus contracts Yellow fever, which is an acute viral disease. It causes fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains, and headaches. Also, it causes 200,000 infections and 30,000 deaths per year. (Yellow Fever Wikipedia)
To better understand the A.Aegypti mosquito, it is important to know the basic details of its physical characteristics. They are known to be approximately 4-7 millimeters. Females are generally larger than males and can be distinguished from males by small palps tipped with silver or white scales. Also, male mouthparts are modified for nectar feeding, while female mouthparts are modified for blood feeding. It is identified to be a holometabolous insect, meaning that their different life stages are easily distinguishable from one other. For examp...
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..., Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, Available from Journal of Insect Physiology. (46 (2000) 655–661)Retrieved from http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/publications/documents/IrwinLee00.pdf
In the article “When Mosquitoes Were Killers in America” by Lauren Tarshis, She makes the statement “Yet mosquitoes are far more than a nuisance.” What she means is that mosquitoes aren't a little bug that just sucks a little blood and can be annoying, but instead it uses all that and more. Mosquitoes have killed millions upon millions of people by spreading disease like malaria. An example of how she supports this claim is in the article, she says “ In this way, bite by itchy bite, 212 million people are infected with malaria every year” (Tarshis 13). And that is only a year with bug spray, shots, and all the other things that help stop mosquitoes. So when the U.S. government tried to save people from these murders little insects. So they
The Asian Tiger Mosquito commonly thrives in residential areas with shade and anything that can hold water. Cans, buckets, flower vases and other water holding containers (like tires), are suitable breeding sites for this invasive species. The male of this species feeds on nectar from plants, whereas the females feed and depend on blood to help them with the development of their eggs. Females may also feed on nectar also....
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Office for State and Local Law Enforcement. n.d. web. 10 November 2013.
Dickerson, James L. Yellow Fever: A Deadly Disease Poised to Kill Again. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2006. Print.
Yellow fever is a horrible disease for those who begin to show symptoms, and while that number is low, of those who do become ill 50% die; only after having two rounds ...
The discovery of yellow fever would have not been possible if people had not put aside their misconceptions of where diseases originated. Diseases in olden time were believed to be divine punishment to people who had committed bad deeds, and therefore not much was done to try to find cures for diseases like yellow fever. As defined by the World Health Organization, yellow fever an acute viral hemorrhagic diseases transmitted by infected mosquitoes, and a common characteristic of this disease is the development of jaundice which gave it the name "yellow" fever. The mosquito responsible for the transmission of the disease is the female Aedes aegypti mosquito. Her transmission of the disease occurs as a result of it biting an infected host and inside her body the virus multiplies, and afterwards if the mosquito bites someone that person becomes infected.
Mosquitoes carried the diseases and when a person got bit he would give a disease to the mosquito and the mosquito would pass it on to the next victim ("Historical Overview").
...t approximately 1%.1, 2, 3, 4 Transmission to humans is either through direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids or infection through the bite of an infected mosquito.1, 2, 3, 4 Rift Valley Fever has been found to have a high capacity for colonization which greatly increases its’ potential emergent risk in Western Nations.2 The virus itself can survive a wide range of bioclimatic environments due to its’ transmission routes.2 The introduction of Rift Valley Fever into regions that were previously unaffected may be due to the potential movement of hosts and vectors through trade or migration.2 The mechanical transport of arthropod vectors is the most probable mechanism of disease dispersal.2 The potential for geographical spread of Rift Valley Fever is the reason why the disease has been identified as a priority emerging disease.2
West Nile Virus has been determined to be a flavivirus. Flavivirus has been defined as, "a type of arbovirus that causes a wide range of diseases in humans,including yellow fever, dengue, and West Nile fever. It is spread by ticks or mosquitoes". (flavi...
Malaria is spread when the mosquito picks up the parasites from the blood of an infected human when it feeds. The mosquito will first recieve the malaria parasite from feeding on the blood of a person who may not neccessarily show symptoms of the disease, but has the parasites in their bloodstream. When the mosquito feeds again, these parasites will be passed on to another human being. Symptoms of malaria include fever, shivering, pain in the joints, headache, repeated vomiting, generalized convulsions, and coma. If not treated, the disease, especially that caused by protozoa falciparum, will progress to severe malaria. Severe malaria generally results in death.
The seventh major case of Endangered Specie. Specific species of mosquito play host to one phase of various disease organisms they are the cause of major diseases that lead to human compilation. Most people don’t find it wrong to wipe the entire mosquito species in other to prevent human diseases such as sleeping sick, malaria, and human
There are nearly one million species of insects known. Insects are defined by having six legs and a body divided into three segments: head, thorax, and abdomen. Chitin is an organic material that makes up an insects exoskeleton. There are three life cycles of insects, ametabolous or incomplete and paurometabolous or gradual, and homotabolous or complete metamorphosis. These life cycles are important in the aging of insects for aiding in legal investigations, (Houck and Siegel. Entomology).
Yellow fever is a deadly disease caused by a viral infection that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Although it is found to be most common in males in their early 20's, yellow fever can affect any sex, race, or age. Since yellow fever is carried by mosquitoes, it is most often found in areas such as Central America, the northern half of South America, and Central Africa where mosquitoes are abundant. The reason why it is found so often in these regions is because they are very close to the equatorial line, and are there for hot, moist, tropical environs.
Forensic entomology is the study of insects and arthropods and their relation to a criminal investigation. Forensic entomology can determine the postmortem interval (PMI) or how long since the descendants’ death, whether the body has been moved since expiring, and what injuries may have been sustained (Ryan, 2011). When decomposition begins, insects establish a colony to lay eggs on the remains; these eggs will hatch into larvae that will eat the human organs and tissues. Forensic entomologists can determine the specific insects present in the body and estimate how long a body has been left exposed by examining the stage of development of the fly larvae; however, these findings are not always plausible. The fly larvae look and act different at each stage of development. The time required for stage development is not only affected by environmental influences such as geographical location, climate, and weather conditions, but also by type of insect. The forensic entomologist must consider these conditions when estimating the postmortem interval. Knowledge of insects, their life cycles, and their habits make entomological evidence a priceless tool for an investigation. Forensic entomology has proved its significance in a number of cases; though circumstances such as weather, temperature, and time of year clearly affect the development of insect infestation, and the expert must keep these in the forefront of his/her mind (Innes, 2000).