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RE: What really happens when a mosquito bites you?
I'm confused about the mouthparts - do they pierce us with all those things at the same time or do they actually select a different tool for the job based on the skin texture of their victim?
Great article, although all of a sudden I'm not so eager for summer.
They use them all :) The outer four (mandibles and maxillae) are used to cut the skin and then the tube formed from labrum and hypopharynx is used to probe and suck blood.
Good grief. And ouch.
Oh there are far worse things, my friend. Tsetse flies and horse flies basically saw you open with broad blades at the tip of their mouthparts. A great deal more ouch to boot 😬
Isn't it funny how the stuff that H R Giger and Hollywood come up with is actually pretty tame compared to what nature can really throw at us?
OH yeah, for sure. Once you start getting into the realm of parasites things really start to get freaky...