Male Mosquito Mouthparts Under the Microscope
Male Mosquito Mouthparts (Whole Mount), Culex sp.
This slide shows the head and mouthparts of a male mosquito, mounted whole and unstained. Male mosquitoes have bushy antennae and do not bite, which makes this a good comparison with the female mosquito slide.
This is a whole mount of the head and mouthparts of a male mosquito (Culex). The dark oval at the top is the head, and coming off it are the antennae, with rings of long, fine hairs that give them a bushy, feathery look. Males use these hairs to hear the wing buzz of females. Long, slender mouthparts reach down from the head, including the palps (feelers) and the proboscis (feeding tube), which males use to sip nectar and plant juices instead of biting. Students can compare this with a female, whose antennae have far fewer hairs.
What to look for
- Bushy (plumose) antennae: Antennae with dense rings of long hairs, giving them a feathery look.
- Maxillary palps: Long, slender feelers beside the proboscis.
- Proboscis: A long feeding tube used to drink nectar and plant juices.
- Compound eyes: Dark eyes on the sides of the head.
Questions and answers
Why do male mosquitoes have bushy antennae?
Male mosquitoes use their feathery antennae to hear the buzzing sound of females' wings, which helps them find a mate.
Do male mosquitoes bite?
No. Male mosquitoes feed on nectar and plant juices. Only females bite, because they need protein from blood to make eggs.
Compare it
- Category
- Invertebrates
- Scan magnification
- 20x
- Stain
- Unstained
Viewing this slide in class
This is a scan of a real prepared slide, not a simulation or a drawing. On StudyScope you can pan from the whole slide down to individual structures, always in focus, and measure them in real micrometers with the calibrated ruler. Present it live and every student screen follows your view and annotations. Students join with a room code on Chromebooks, iPads, or any browser, with no accounts.