Difference between Dengue Mosquito and Normal Mosquito

Mosquitoes are flies that belong to the family Culicidae. They have a slender segmented body, with a pair of wings, three pairs of long legs and mouthparts that are elongated. The females of several species of mosquitoes are bloodsuckers that cause diseases, such as malaria, dengue, West Nile fever, chikungunya, etc.

The males are harmless and only feed on sugary fluids.

Dengue Mosquito

The dengue mosquito has been classified under the genus Aedes. The female species of the Aedes mosquito act as vectors for transmitting various diseases, such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Zika fever, etc.

The mosquito can be identified by white and black markings on their bodies and legs. A. albopictus and A. aegypti are two known female species that transmit the disease. They feed during the daytime with peak activity at dawn or dusk, and lay their eggs on stagnant water.

The symptoms include headache, joint pain, rash and fever. Mosquito repellants, nets and traps can be used to prevent a mosquito bite.

Normal Mosquito

A normal mosquito is the one that lacks the ability to cause dengue in human beings. The life cycle of mosquitoes has four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The females have a special tube-like mouth called proboscis, that is used to suck blood from both vertebrates and invertebrates.

They belong to the family Culicidae. They look like midges, having a length of 3-6 mm. Some females need to suck on blood to obtain nutrients for their eggs, while some others can lay and hatch eggs without sucking on blood.

They feed during dawn or dusk and thrive at the temperature range of 15-25 ℃.

Dengue Mosquito vs Normal Mosquito

Dengue Mosquito

Normal Mosquito

Description
Dengue mosquitoes are known to carry dengue causing particles in their saliva. Normal mosquitoes belong to the class Culicidae, and they do not carry dengue causing particles.
Appearance
They have characteristic black and white markings on their bodies and legs. They appear midge-like and are 3-6mm in length.
Feeding time
They feed on blood during the daytime. They rest in a cool place during day time and feed during dawn or dusk.
Egg
They lay their eggs on stagnant water. They can lay eggs on stagnant water, water edges or aquatic plants.
Bite
You cannot feel a dengue mosquito’s bite. A normal mosquito’s bite is painful and you can feel the piercing on your skin.
Living Conditions
They mostly live indoors and cannot survive in cold weather. They are found both indoors and outdoors, and the optimum temperature for their survival is 15-25 ℃.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1

How can we identify dengue mosquitoes?

The dengue mosquitoes have characteristic black and white markings throughout their body, and legs and the females are slightly larger than the males.

Q2

Is one mosquito bite enough for dengue?

Yes, one mosquito bite is enough to make you infected with dengue.

Q3

What does a dengue rash look like?

A dengue rash looks like small red spots that cannot be felt upon touching.

Q4

What are the warning signs of dengue?

The warning signs of dengue include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Laziness
  • Enlargement of the liver
  • Vomiting
  • Rapid decrease in platelet count.

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