What mosquito feeds on nectar?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
October 16, 2002
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killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading—>Click here.
The burrows of the blue land crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) extend down to the water table. This habitat protects the crab from the desiccating heat of the midday. The mangrove killifish (Rivulus marmoratus) will bunk with the crab and act as housekeeper until rains encourage the killifish to move on. One other little creature takes advantage of the land crab's generous quarters, the crabhole mosquito (Deinocerites cancer Theobald).
The crabhole mosquito prefers burrows at the edges of mangrove swamps and brackish marshes near its main food source--herons, egrets, and storks. Female crabhole mosquitoes lay their eggs slightly above the water line in the crab's burrow. The larvae crawl to the water where they develop slowly, spending up to three weeks before emerging as adults, if they emerge at all. Mangrove killifish quickly eat any larvae present in their crab burrow.
Female crabhole mosquitoes are ready to breed as soon as they emerge from the pupa. A male mosquito finds a female pupa and, fighting off other males, remains with her until she emerges. According to George F. O'Meara, "Blood feeding in the crabhole mosquito, Deinocerites cancer, appears delayed until after the first egg batch has been laid...." (Reproductive Biology of Saltmarsh Mosquitoes, 2001)
Although females feed on birds as their source of protein for egg production, both male and female crabhole mosquitoes take nectar from flowers.
George F. O'Meara with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, has posted a fascinating article about the crabhole mosquito. To view photographs of the mosquito and learn more, click on the link:
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/aquatic/crabhole_mosquito.htm
Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) Plant of the Week - March 14, 2005
What plant builds islands? Renfield's Garden - October 10, 2002
A tale of fireflies, monkeys, mangroves, bananas, and bats Renfield's Garden - November 28, 2001
Why do female blue crabs migrate? Renfield's Garden - October 2, 2002
Why is the mangrove killifish unique? Renfield's Garden - October 9, 2002
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