Male vs. Female Mosquitoes: Everything You Need to Know

picture of a mosquito sitting on a skin

While mosquitoes are simple creatures, these flying little fellas have a world of curiosities they hide behind their buzzing presence. In the present article, we present you the fascinating differences between male and female mosquitoes (everything you need to know and a little more).

Male vs. Female Mosquito Anatomy

graphic showing parts of mosquito

All adult mosquitoes have the same three body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. But there are some key differences between male and female mosquitoes in their appearance and anatomy. These differences are not visible to the naked eye, as you would need a magnifying glass to be able to see them. 

These are the main anatomical parts where male and female mosquitoes differentiate and their purpose. See our chart below for how these differ in males and females.

  • Proboscis: Equivalent to their mouth parts, the proboscis is a long appendix in the mosquito head through which they feed
  • Antennae: Feather-like structures covered in fine hairs called flagella that help mosquitoes sense air movement and carbon dioxide
  • Palps: Paired structures located between the proboscis and the antennae that can sense odor
  • Reproductive organs: The last abdominal organ of a mosquito can be a pair of finger-like structures called cerci, with which the female lays eggs. In the case of male mosquitoes, the reproductive organ is a pair of pincer-like claspers.

The following chart shows the differences between female mosquitoes’ and male mosquitoes’ anatomic parts.

comparison of a male and female mosquito
Photo Credits:
Female Mosquito / doug4537 / Canva Pro / License
Male Mosquito / Astrid860 / Canva Pro / License
Female mosquitoesMale mosquitoes
SizeLarger than male mosquitoesGenerally smaller in size 
ProboscisNeedle-like proboscis capable of piercing skinSofter proboscis that cannot perforate the skin
AntennaeLightly featheredHairier, bushy antennae 
PalpsShort palpsLong palps
Reproductive organsFinger-like cerciClaspers

On a curious note: Male and female mosquitoes have distinct buzzing sounds! Females produce a higher tone, as their buzzing frequency is 400 Hertz, while males buzz at 600 Hertz. Romantically enough, when a single male encounters a single female they synchronize, forming a beautiful (taste is relative, right?) 1200 Hertz duet. Love is in the air!

Male vs. Female Mosquito Feeding Habits

Another crucial difference between male and female mosquitoes lies in their diets. Only female mosquitoes feed on blood and are vectors to mosquito-borne diseases. But the female mosquito diet is not blood-exclusive. Here’s what mosquitoes eat:

What Do Male Mosquitoes Eat?

The male mosquito feeds only on plant nectar and sugary liquids, such as fruit juices and honeydew. Because of their feeding habits, male mosquitoes play an important environmental role as pollinators. So basically he is a vegan, but he’ll kindly pass the tofu. 

What Do Female Mosquitoes Eat?

Contrary to popular belief, females feed on more than just blood. They also feed on nectar and other sugary substances. But a blood meal is necessary for the female to acquire the protein required to produce eggs and reproduce. 

For her occasional bloody dessert, female mosquitoes can bite humans, mammals, birds, amphibians, and even other mosquitoes. For that reason, female mosquitoes are the vectors of an array of mosquito-borne diseases:

  • Aedes mosquitoes: Mosquitoes of this species are vectors to the Zika virus, Chikungunya, dengue fever, and more. The Aedes aegypti can transmit yellow fever and all of the above-mentioned diseases.
  • Culex mosquitoes: One of the most common mosquitoes in the U.S. and popularly called house mosquitoes, these girls can carry St. Louis and Western equine encephalitis, besides the West Nile virus.
  • Anopheles mosquitoes: Out of the 460 different species of Anopheles mosquitoes, 100 of them can transmit malaria. The Anopheles quadrimaculatus is the main vector of the disease in the U.S. 

On another curious note: Some mosquito species don’t feed on blood at all, as is the case with male and female mosquitoes of the Toxorhynchites genus, for example, which feed exclusively on flower nectar.

Male vs. Female Mosquito Lifespan

graphic showing a mosquito life cycle

Another key difference between male and female mosquitoes is their lifespan. The mosquito life cycle starts the same for everyone:

  • Eggs: The female mosquito lays her eggs in sites with standing water or above the waterline of containers. The eggs hatch within approximately 24 to 48 hours depending on the water temperature.
  • Larvae: The mosquito larvae (also called “wrigglers”) live in the water, and within 4 to 10 days, the larvae develop into the pupa stage. 
  • Pupae: The mosquito pupae (commonly named “tumblers”) also live in the water and within 2 to 3 days they turn into adult mosquitoes, ready to feed and reproduce. 

Once the mosquitoes turn into adults, the gender differences appear:

  • The male mosquitoes have a shorter lifespan, living approximately one week. Once they emerge from the pupa stage, they will first feed on plant nectar and proceed to look for a female with whom to mate.
  • The female mosquitoes live longer than their male counterparts, approximately two or three weeks. Around day two after emerging from the pupae stage, they will mate with a male mosquito and then they will depart on their adventure to find a blood meal. Females that hibernate during fall and winter can live even longer, up to 6 months. 

FAQ

Are Male Mosquitoes Harmless?

Yes, male mosquitoes are harmless to humans since they don’t feed on blood, and even their anatomy doesn’t allow them to pierce human or animal skin. Their buzzing in our ears is still annoying, though. But that’s their only crime.

Are Female Mosquitoes Aggressive?

Yes, female mosquitoes are aggressive biters, feeding on animal and human blood. Bites from a female mosquito can cause itching, swelling, and subsequent skin irritation. 

Do Male Mosquitoes Bite?

No, male mosquitoes don’t bite. Only female mosquitoes bite humans and other animals to give their tummies a blood meal, which they require for egg development. 

Buzz Off Those Mosquitoes

As oddly fascinating as they are, mosquitoes know how to be a nuisance. Don’t waste your time dealing with them on your own when you can get a helping hand. Pest Gnome makes it easy by connecting you to the best mosquito control experts in your area. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Main Image Credit: Pixabay

Teresa Joaquim

Teresa is a creative writer who holds a Master's degree in Psychology. Despite being a nature lover, she is terrified of cockroaches. As a native of the tropics, she is used to dealing with mosquitoes, although they still manage to bother her. Her favorite things are art, music, and playing with her two cats.