mosquito

Everyday

A mosquito is a small flying insect with long legs; the females bite people and animals and suck their blood. tree →

In the lessons

In science, mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water; their larvae live in water; only females bite, because they need blood to make eggs; males drink plant juice. In health and safety, mosquito bites itch, and in some hot countries mosquitoes spread diseases such as malaria, dengue and Zika; people use repellent, nets and long sleeves, and empty standing water. Phrases: «mosquito bite», «mosquito net», «mosquito repellent», «bitten by a mosquito».

Examples

• A mosquito bit me on the arm. tree →
• Mosquito bites are very itchy. tree →
• Put on insect repellent to keep mosquitoes away. tree →
• We slept under a mosquito net. tree →
• Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water. tree →
• Empty the old paddling pool so mosquitoes can't breed. tree →
• Only female mosquitoes bite. tree →
• In some countries mosquitoes carry malaria. tree →
• A queer sound could be heard, soft as a little bell, and faint and muffled like the buzz of a far-away mosquito. tree →

Note

Plural «mosquitoes» (more common) or «mosquitos». Stress on the second syllable: «mo-SKEE-toe». An insect, so it has six legs. Myth: mosquitoes do not choose people with «sweet blood»; they follow the carbon dioxide we breathe out and body smell.