Jack and the Pesky Mosquitoes!

Find out what Jack learned about these creatures.

“Ouch!” Jack exclaimed.

Ugh! Jack loved camping at Martin Creek Lake State Park but he wished the mosquitoes would leave him alone!

“Mom, why do these guys keep biting me? They’re so mean!” Jack asked his mother as he slapped at the buzzing insects.

“First of all, Jack,” his mother told him as she applied DEET insect repellent to his arms, “those guys are really females.”

“What!?” Jack was surprised to hear that!

His mom nodded. “Only the females eat blood and only when they are ready to reproduce. That’s because they need the fats and proteins in blood to help develop their eggs,” she told him.

“Oh,” Jack said. “So, they aren’t really mean after all? They’re just trying to eat so they can lay their eggs?”

“Yep,” his mother responded. “They need a blood meal so they can create the next generation of mosquitoes.”

“But wouldn’t it be better if there wasn’t another generation? I mean, camping would be a lot more fun without mosquitoes!” said Jack.

Jack’s mom shook her head. “Well, actually camping probably wouldn’t be fun at all because nature wouldn’t be the same without them. Animals in Texas like mosquito fish and dragonflies eat tons of mosquitoes a year. So, just because we don’t like them doesn’t mean they aren’t important to other creatures, Son.”

“I thought that’s what you’d say. I remember how you and dad told me how everything in nature is connected.” Jack smiled at his mom. “So, what do female mosquitoes eat when they’re not eating blood?”

“Nectar, which is what the males eat all the time,” his mother told him. “And, guess what else, Jack?”

“What?”

“Those female mosquitoes don’t really bite. They poke. They poke part of their proboscis into your skin and use it like a straw to suck blood.”

“Their pro-bahs-iss?” Jack said the word carefully.

“Yes, their proboscis. You said it perfectly! Pro-bahs-iss. Want to know more?”

Jack nodded.

His mother continued. “The mosquito makes something called an ‘anti-coagulant’ that travels through another part of the proboscis. The anti-coagulant keeps the blood thickening into a scab so the mosquito can keep drinking until she’s full.”

Jack made a face. “That’s really cool, Mom, but it’s also really gross at the same time.”

His mother laughed. “It is, isn’t it?” She handed him his fishing pole. “Here, let’s go join your dad at the lake. When we get there he can help me tell you about some other bloodsuckers like kissing bugs, ticks, fleas, bedbugs, horseflies, deerflies, lice, and leeches.”

“Yikes! That’s a lot of bloodsuckers!” Jack exclaimed. “Do they all live here where we’re camping?”

His mom shook her head. “No, just some of them.” She started walking toward Martin Creek Lake. “Come on! Let’s go catch us some supper!”

As Jack and his mom headed down the trail, Jack thought about the large-mouth bass they would eat for dinner. His stomach growled just picturing it and a huge smile came over his face. Suddenly, he realized that he hadn’t swatted at a mosquito in awhile. The insect repellent with DEET must be working.

This was going to be fun camping trip after all!