Do mosquito teeth?
The question of how many teeth a mosquito causes is controversial. Some experts say that these individuals have them, but they are not as strong as animals, humans, fish, and perform a slightly different function. Other entomologists claim that, as such, no. Insofar as mosquitoes feed liquid food, the need for chewing tools does not arise. Whether a mosquito has teeth, and what function they perform, should be considered in terms of the structure of the oral apparatus.
Eat or not
Many are sure that once an insect eats liquid food, it has no teeth. As the main channel for food uses the proboscis, which pierces the skin of the victim.It should be immediately understood that in males the oral apparatus is different from females, it has a simplified structure.
In females, a sufficiently large set of chitinous setae is about 50 pieces. They are located on the upper, lower jaw, ending the proboscis. Practically mosquito the skin does not pierce proboscis, and gnaws. Mosquito teeth are extremely tiny in size, and since they are not visible, it is assumed that they are not at all.
There are 4 mandibles in the mouth. It is customary to call them jaws, but they initially pierce the skin, and only then the proboscis expands the wound. Mosquito teeth in a typical representation are missing, but there are bristles that perform similar functions.
Interesting!
During the bite, the insect introduces a special secret that thins the blood, promotes good nutrition. The same substance is a strong allergen. After the bite immediately appears redness and swelling, itchperhaps a manifestation of strong allergic reaction.
The structure of the oral apparatus
The insect has piercing and sucking apparatus, structure which can only be considered under the microscope. It is represented by two lips, jaws - lower, upper.Lips of an elongated shape form a gutter, inside which 5 sharp needles are placed. These are underdeveloped organs that play a certain role in obtaining nutrients.
Between the piercing stylets is a tube for sucking blood. On one pair of needles are stabbing setae, which are commonly called teeth. On the sides of the 4 gutters that initially bite through the skin. Then the insect with needles holds the skin, leaving the wound open, and introduces the proboscis.
Photos of mosquito teeth are presented below. There you can also consider the structure of the insect's mouth apparatus. In the male, the digestive system is somewhat different, it uses only nectar, plant sap, he does not need such a “powerful” jaw. The question can be answered both yes and no. Rather, the similarity on them, to have full-fledged jaws, pests need nothing.
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