Question

A female Anopheles mosquito can be recognised as its
A. Proboscis and palpi are long and more or less of equal length
B. Proboscis long and palpi sort
C. Proboscis long and palpi short
D. Both proboscis and palpi short

Answer 1

Hint:- Mosquitoes are carriers of agents causing diseases like malaria & dengue. Thus identification of mosquitoes is important. The palps and the proboscis present are the distinguishing feature forAnopheles mosquito, the length of the palps and proboscis as well the structure of the proboscis helps in differentiating between male and female.

Complete step-by-step solution:- Anopheles mosquitoes can be distinguished from other mosquitoes with the help of palps,which are of equal length as that of the proboscis and also by the presence of separate and distinct blocks of black and white scales on the wings.
-Palps are the pair of elongated segmented appendages which are found near the mouth of
an arthropod and is mainly concerned with the sensation of touch and taste.
-Proboscis found in many insects is an elongated flexible and tubular sucking mouthpart
-We can identify the adults by observing their resting position: males and females rest with
their abdomens sticking up in the air rather than parallel to the surface on which they are
resting.
-The male Anopheles mosquitoes do not feed on mammalian blood, the proboscis are used
by them to drink nectar from flowers.
-Female Anopheles mosquitoes also have proboscis, which is a long thin tube which is used
for feeding. The palpi and the proboscis are approximately of equal length.
-Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Note:- Other mosquitoes can be differentiated from the Anopheles mosquitoes with the help of the palps, which are as long as the proboscis and also by the presence of discrete blocks made up of black and white are present on the scales on the wings.