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Name: Penny
Status: student
Age: 12
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999-2001
Question:
How can you tell the difference between a male mosquito and a female mosquito?

Replies:
Male mosquitoes do not try to bite you. The females need blood to lay eggs, but the males do not need to lay eggs.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois

There are many species of mosquitoes that look a little bit different from each other, but all male mosquitoes have "plumose" or obviously feathery looking antennae, females have only very short hairs on the antennae. The enhanced antennae of males help them locate females for mating. Only female mosquitoes bite.

J. Elliott

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