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Mosquito antennae are finely tuned sensing organs of mosquitoes. Male mosquitoes can be identified by their elaborate plumose (feather-like) antennae, which are composed of many fine hair-like structures. The ornate structure of the male mosquito antennae allows him to find a female. Entomologists believe that the male antennae vibrate for only one sound: the beating of female wings. If a female mosquito is to the right of a male mosquito, then the right antenna of the male vibrates more than the left, and vice versa. In contrast, female antennae have fewer and shorter hair-like structure––hunting blood and laying eggs apparently do not call for fancy antennae.
Image and text copyright © Dennis Kunkel. All rights reserved. |
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