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.
A whole mount (W.M.) preparation of the head region and mouthparts of a male mosquito. The specimen clearly displays prominent, bushy (plumose) antennae with dense whorls of long hairs—a diagnostic feature of male mosquitoes used for detecting female flight tones—alongside elongated maxillary palps and a non-piercing proboscis suited for feeding on nectar and plant juices.
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.
At each magnification
Low power (about 4x)
The head with feathery antennae and a long proboscis.
Medium power (about 10x)
The rings of long hairs on the antennae and the palps next to the proboscis.
High power (about 40x)
Individual antenna hairs and the segments of the palps.
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.
- Category
- Invertebrates
- Scan magnification
- 20x
- Stain
- Unstained
- Tags
- Male mosquito mouthparts whole mount, Male mosquito mouthparts W.M., Culex, Mosquito, Diptera, Culicidae
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.