What We Got Wrong About Mosquito Mating—Researchers Explain Why Females Are in Charge

What we got wrong about mosquito mating—researchers explain why females are in charge

The female mosquito only mates once in her lifetime, and yet she can develop many hundreds of eggs from this single event. After each blood feeding, she draws from an internal sperm storage unit to inseminate her eggs, then lays them (about 150 in each batch) and repeats this process every few days.

When It Comes to Mating, Female Mosquitoes Call the Shots

Researchers have discovered that contrary to long-held assumptions, female mosquitoes control mating. A subtle physical movement of her genitalia enables a single mating in her lifetime. The discovery may help improve methods of mosquito population control.