<< Previous Next >>

Mosquito Bite / Blood


Mosquito Bite / Blood
Photo Information
Copyright: Mike Muizebelt (Mousehill) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 122 W: 64 N: 183] (754)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Pentax *ist DS, Pentax F 100/2.8 macro
Exposure: f/22, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Feeding Time [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-12-18 21:09
Viewed: 35827
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This photo is actually a two part story, please look at the workshop for part two in this sequence.

The hairly leg is part of my body and you see that her belly is nice and swollen from the meal she just had.

How many kinds of mosquitoes are there?
About 3000 species of mosquitoes have been described on a world-wide basis. Approximately 150 are known to occur in North America. The term "Mosquito State"; is appropriate for New Jersey because 63 species of mosquitoes have been found within its boundaries, to date. Scientists group species by genus on the basis of the physical characteristics they share. The 3000 mosquito species found in the world are divided among 28 different genera. The genus Aedes contains some of the worst pests. Many members of the genus Anopheles have the ability to transmit human malaria. Ten different genera occur in New Jersey including: Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta, Coquillettidia, Psorophora, Orthopodomyia, Uranotaenia, Toxorhynchites and Wyeomyia. It is sometimes more convenient to group mosquitoes by the breeding habitat they use. The major habitat groups found in New Jersey include: "Snowpool Mosquitoes", "Floodwater Mosquitoes", "Swamp Breeding Mosquitoes" and "Container Breeding Mosquitoes".

Why do mosquitoes bite?
Mosquitoes belong to a group of insects that requires blood to develop fertile eggs. Males do not lay eggs, thus, male mosquitoes do not bite. The females are the egg producers and "host-seek" for a blood meal. Female mosquitoes lay multiple batches of eggs and require a blood meal for every batch they lay. Few people realize that mosquitoes rely on sugar as their main source of energy. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, fruit juices and liquids that ooze from plants. The sugar is burned as fuel for flight and is replenished on a daily basis. Blood is reserved for egg production and is imbibed less frequently.

Why do mosquitoes leave welts when they bite?
When a female mosquito pierces the skin with her mouthparts, she injects a small amount of saliva into the wound before drawing blood. The saliva makes penetration easier and prevents the blood from clotting in the narrow channel of her food canal. The welts that appear after the mosquito leaves is not a reaction to the wound but an allergic reaction to the saliva injected to prevent clotting. In most cases, the itching sensation and swellings subside within several hours. Some people are highly sensitive and symptoms persist for several days. Scratching the bites can result in infection if bacteria from the fingernails are introduced to the wounds.

Exposure Time: 1/125 sec
F-Stop: f/22.0
ISO Speed Ratings: 200
Focal Length: 100/1 mm
Date Taken: 2005-10-28 07:10
scottevers7, annagrace, red45, willow, liquidsunshine, marmottelolo, LeBonhomme, extramundi, marhowie, livios, cedryk, klemmg, Janice, Jannie, pitai, elizabeth, dec, moonbear, MichalG, oscarromulus has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To khris_rino: Hi Khris and thanks for commentingMousehill 1 12-18 21:37
To scottevers7: Thanks Scott :-)Mousehill 1 12-18 21:34
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Mike,
Outstanding shot. It made me slap the screen to kill it! Killer macro shot!(Yes the pun was intended) Amazing detail, clarity, and DOF in this photo. Very unique post. Great job!
Scott

Wow! How many bites did you have to experiment with to get this shot :) Very good macro work here. Good idea - good execution. Thanks for sharing!

Stunning capture, I can't believe you had the composure to photograph this so well while your blood was being sucked, LOL!

Well seen,

Alli

Hi Mike,
this is an excellent makro-shot of a moment I always notice not until it's too late and the bad mosquito already had my blood.
How have you managed to make that shot, unbeleaveable and fantastic, thank you very much, very good quality
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-12-19 3:36]

Wow, Mike, really bloody story, especially blood bath in your WS :-) I love this kind of posts - not only great pictures, but also story. And briliant idea. I like it very, very much!

Two thumbs up! :)

Hi Mike!
Amazing close-up! I agree with Sabine! It's unbeleaveable and fantastic shot.

Hi Mike
very good shot
nice detail
bloody story
Hamid

  • Great 
  • Libor Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 164 W: 1 N: 25] (1101)
  • [2005-12-19 6:02]

:o) very good shot
great details
TFS Libor

Wonderful (if gory) sequence ! Never had a chance to take this kind of picture, because my hand always went before I had time to think twice and shoot a picture!...
Excellent job

You have (and several others, as I felt I was monopolising things) stolen a shot I have, but yours is SO much better, as I didn't let it be on me for so long - same as pqmoni.
Brave man. well done.

Nicely slapped Mike,
Good detail and colours. Great POV and sharpness.
Nicely composed and good exposure.
Thanks for posting. Have a good week.
Have a very merry Christmas and Happy new year.

  • Great 
  • pat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 87 W: 0 N: 125] (414)
  • [2005-12-19 12:40]

Hi Mike,
Outstanding sharp picture ! How do you manage to do all this macrowork with only one free hand, mosquito biting your other arm ? One clearly sees how its belly is growing. But your workshop, sorry to say, is sooo much shocking.

excellente macro mike
de bons details, la note est bonne mais ce que j'aime le plus c'est le workshop!!!

Bonjour Mike,
absolutly fabulous!
Congrats!

Excellent first image, with excellent composition, really gets you into the mosquito´s world, that is your skin :)
Surprising second image, yes this is TN, the stronger wins in this case :D
Great document, thanks for sharing.

You really out did yourself here Mike..What a "graphic" conclusion to this pests "bloodthirst"! Superb note and photo.
Thank You & Merry Christmas!

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2005-12-20 19:53]

Mike, this is indeed an unusual image.

Excellent colors, sharpness, pov and composition.

I guess I wouldn't have killed the bug.

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 50 N: 1722] (5270)
  • [2005-12-20 20:20]

Hello Mike!
Brrrr... what a thrilling scene and... a perfect note. Also the picture is technically great!
Best greetings,
Michal

Interesting set of shots, spot-on so to speak, incl. DOF and focus, among others ;-)
Gabi

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-12-31 15:03]

Good job Mike! Especially part 2...
Not a very nice insect and not a good one to be bitten by either. Nice sharp shot, well captured, thank you. And interesting notes too... TFS
Janice

Excellent shot of the most hated bug in the world. Very good detail.

TFS

  • Great 
  • pitai Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 15 N: 155] (1212)
  • [2006-04-22 10:54]

Hello Mike, very good secuence. I love both pictuctures. Great Macro, perfect DOF and POV. Congrats for the good work!

A good and unusual photo and a very interesting note.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2007-06-28 4:05]

Hi Mike, This is amazing statistics and different composition. This is wonderful stuff. Ganesh PT/

Hi Mike,
Nice, very nice macro picture and description. They 'bite'?? They don't have teeth! LOL. Bloody suckers.... they prick and cause us rashes! Where was the light source? House hold lamp I reckon, going by the shadow of a hair in the bottom of the frame?

Dinu

Hi,Mike Uncle
An exellent photo.How do you people manage to take such a close shot?Anyway very well done.



TFS,
Vicks

  • Great 
  • agulec (131)
  • [2008-05-08 7:38]

LOL!!! great shot of a vampire!!! ;)

  • Great 
  • san Silver Note Writer [C: 6 W: 0 N: 23] (166)
  • [2008-06-25 18:18]

Mike,
This one is a terrific post with superb clarity. You must have been real quick to capture that one! Good job.
TFS
San

VERY IMPRESSIVE, indeed!!!
Looks ALIVE.
The whole presentation including the notes are done with taste.
Best regards,
Mario from COLD COLD Canada.
P.S. We don't have a terrible problem within Canada from this pest ... 'cause of our intense COLD, I suppose.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF