Apr 17, 2010

Pretty Blood Sucker

Photo courtesy: Sean McCann
Sabethes mosquitos live in the forests of Central and South America. This particular one was photographed in Nouragues, French Guiana. These hematophages (great rock band name) are vectors for yellow fever and have a predilection for landing on humans' noses.


Why the nose? Maybe because that orifice breathes out a lot of carbon dioxide (a supposed lure for the mosquitos)? Maybe they want to give you pause with their iridescent colors, long enough at least to take a sip and then float away?

And speaking of those colors, I appreciate that they've gone to some effort to be more visually appealing. It makes it less insulting when you catch them sucking your blood.


2 comments:

Lockwood said...

And the stunningly beautiful technicolor Rorschach blots you get when you swat the little suckers!

Nicole said...

That makes my skin crawl. I do everything in my power to ward off these creatures and here is one just drinking away. EGAD!