Observation of Mosquito Skin Penetration and Blood Suction using animal skin

Abstract

We tried to elucidate the mechanism of a blood sucking of a female mosquito using her needle, and the role of the mosquito's labium which is the sheath wrapped around its needles. Using an inverted microscope, we successfully observed the moment when a mosquito inserted its needle into a mouse skin. As a result, it was observed that the mosquito twisted the labium when she inserts her needle to the mouse skin. In addition, it was observed that the mosquito's needle hardly distorts the skin and blood vessels of the mouse.