What Do Mosquitoes Eat?
Mosquitoes have different dietary habits depending on their gender and life stage, and their feeding behavior is crucial to understanding their biology and control.
What Do Female Mosquitoes Eat?
Female mosquitoes have a more complex diet than male mosquitoes, as they require different types of nourishment depending on their biological needs. Their diet includes both plant-based sugars for energy and animal blood for reproduction.
Plant-Based Sugars (Primary Energy Source)
Female mosquitoes feed on:
Nectar from flowers
Honeydew from aphids and other plant-sucking insects
Fruit juices or plant sap
These sugar sources provide the energy required for flying, resting, and daily survival. Sugar feeding occurs regularly and is critical throughout the female mosquito’s life.
Blood (Required for Egg Development)
What sets females apart is their ability—and need—to consume blood meals. Only after mating, females seek out a host to obtain protein and iron from the blood, which are essential for egg production. Blood is not used for energy but to nourish developing eggs.
Common blood sources for female mosquitoes include:
Humans
Mammals (e.g., dogs, cattle, deer)
Birds
Reptiles or amphibians (depending on the mosquito species)
What Do Male Mosquitoes Eat?
Male mosquitoes primarily feed on plant-based sources, as they do not bite humans or animals. Their diet is composed of the following:
Nectar: Nectar from flowers is the main food source for male mosquitoes. It provides the sugar and carbohydrates needed for energy, supporting flight, mating behavior, and general survival. Males often visit a variety of flowering plants to feed, sometimes even preferring certain species based on scent or availability.
Honeydew: This is a sugar-rich secretion produced by aphids and other plant-sucking insects. Male mosquitoes may feed on honeydew when floral nectar is scarce or unavailable. It's commonly found on leaves or stems and provides similar nutritional benefits.
Plant Juices: In addition to nectar and honeydew, male mosquitoes can feed on sap or other plant exudates. When plants are damaged or produce moisture at stem joints or other points, mosquitoes may take advantage of the sugary liquids released.
Fruit Juices: Although less common, some male mosquitoes may feed on overripe or damaged fruit, sipping on the fermented or sugary juices. This is more opportunistic and usually occurs when fruit is decaying or cracked open.
Biological Note: Male mosquitoes do not have the necessary mouthparts (specifically the piercing proboscis) to bite and feed on blood. Their mouthparts are adapted solely for siphoning liquid sugars, unlike females who require a blood meal for egg development.
Since male mosquitoes tend to congregate around vegetation, flowering plants, or nectar sources, understanding their feeding habits can aid in strategic placement of traps (like CO₂-baited or scent-based traps) or the deployment of autodissemination stations that exploit mating behavior and sugar-feeding habits.
What Do Mosquito Larvae Eat?
Mosquito larvae, commonly known as "wigglers," primarily feed on microscopic organic material found in the water where they hatch and develop. Their diet consists of the following:
Microorganisms: This includes bacteria, protozoa, and algae. These are essential for larval growth and are often suspended in the water or found on submerged surfaces.
Organic Debris: Larvae consume decomposing plant matter, detritus, and other fine organic particles. These materials often accumulate in stagnant water where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
Plankton: Some species also feed on phytoplankton (plant-like microscopic organisms) and zooplankton (tiny aquatic animals), which are common in nutrient-rich water bodies.
Fungal Spores and Other Microparticles: Depending on the environment, mosquito larvae may also ingest fungal spores and suspended particulate matter in the water.
Mosquito larvae use brush-like mouthparts to sweep food particles toward their mouths. They can filter-feed by creating water currents with their mouth brushes or by scraping surfaces in their habitat, depending on the species and available food sources.
Understanding what mosquito larvae eat is crucial for effective mosquito control. Many larvicides work by disrupting the microbial food base or are ingested directly by the larvae, such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), a bacterium that produces toxins specifically lethal to mosquito larvae when consumed. Additionally, eliminating organic-rich stagnant water helps reduce available food sources and breeding sites.