Habitats of Mosquitoes

Students

Touta

Amar

Raimi

Ayman

Arsya

Ihsan

Mentors

Ms. Tari

Ms. Ayu

Ms. Dhani

Central Idea:
Biodiversity relies on maintaining the interdependent balance of organisms within systems.

The Lines of Inquiry:

Ways in which ecosystems, bio-mes and environments are interdependent
How human interaction with the environment can affect the balance of systems
The consequences of imbalance within ecosystems

Science strands: Living things
The study of the characteristics, systems and behaviors of humans and other animals, and of plants; the interactions and relationships between and among them, and with their environment.

Related concepts:
Balance, Biodiversity, Interdependence

Learning Outcomes:

Describe and examine the interactions of living things within and between ecosystems and interactions between living things and non-living parts of the environment
Recognize that solar energy sustains ecosystems through a transformation of energy
Investigate the conservation of energy in ecosystems
Analyze the effects of changing a link in a food web
Explain how human activities can have positive or adverse effects on local and other environments (for example, waste, agriculture, industry)

1. Exploring, Wondering, Questioning

We explored the information about mosquitoes from websites. Then we discussed and made a mind map.

Mosquito
Best known as summer pest, Mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days.

Size: 1/4" to 3/8"
Shape: Narrow, oval
Legs: 6
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Habitat: Mosquitoes breed in soft, moist soil or stagnant water sources such as storm drains, old tires, children's wading pools and birdbaths.

Mosquitoes do not bite. Female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar and blood. They need the protein to reproduce. To get to the blood, they pierce our skin with their "proboscis" and suck our blood. Male mosquitoes feed exclusively on plant nectars.

Mosquitoes are busiest at night and will fly up to 14 miles for a blood meal. They hunt for food by detecting body heat and Carbon Dioxide, the gas we breathe out.

Mosquito Fact

We are wondering and questioning:
Where are the habitats of mosquitoes?
Why are mosquitoes more interested in some specific places?
Do all mosquitoes spread diseases?
What are their functions to the ecosystem?
What will happen when no mosquitoes in the ecosystem?
Is there any benefit from mosquitoes?

2. Researching and Seeking Information

We caught the mosquitoes in different places using pot lid and cooking oil to know the type of mosquitoes around Al Jabr.

Here are the types of mosquitoes we have found in Al Jabr:

Type: Ochlerotatus triseriatus

Type: Coquillettidia xanthogaster or golden mosquito

Type: Aedes albopictus or asian tiger mosquito, also known as forest mosquito. The predator is spider.

We also have found out why mosquitoes are interested in human's blood so much

Mosquito Species
1. Aedes
Aedes is a genus of mosquito originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents excluding Antarctica. The genus contains over 700 species; the most medically significant of them being Aedes vexans, Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. Aedes species typically bite at dawn and dusk.

Aedes Vexans: They are described as West Nile virus bridge vectors; meaning they can transmit the virus from the bird population to humans. The adults are known to fly great distances and are readily attracted to light.
Aedes albopictus, or Asian tiger mosquitoes of medical importance due to its aggressive and persistent daytime human-biting behavior and ability to vector many diseases, including Dengue, La Crosse, Chikungunya and West Nile virus. It is an opportunistic biter, which will bite as often during broad daylight as it will at dusk.
Aedes aegypti or Yellow fever mosquito is the primary vector of Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika virus and Yellow Fever. Aedes aegypti is an aggressive daytime biter - most active during daylight and for approximately two hours after sunrise and several hours before sunset. An indoor/outdoor pest, the mosquito will happily rest inside closets, under chairs and other dark places. Outside, they rest where it is cool and shaded. Their eggs can withstand desiccation (drying out) surviving in containers without water for several months.

2. Culex
Culex mosquitoes are painful and persistent biters. They prefer to attack at dusk and after dark, and readily enter dwellings for blood meals. They are generally weak fliers and do not move far from home.

Culex pipiens, is found on every continent except Antarctica. They are known vectors of West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis and Heart-worm in dogs. Most active at night, Culex pipiens prefer to attack at dusk and after dark.
Culex tarsalis is responsible for the transmission of St. Louis and Western Equine Encephalitis viruses. Culex tarsalis is most active in the few hours after sunset feeding on both bird and mammal hosts. These mosquitoes find hosts by detecting the sweat and carbon dioxide exhaled by mammals or birds.
Culex restuans is considered a vector of St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) and West Nile Virus (WNV). They will breed in water that ranges from clear to grossly polluted and are found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats including ditches, streams, woodland pools as well as artificial containers.

3. Anopheles
The Anopheles mosquito is known universally as the Malaria Mosquito because it is considered the primary vector of the disease. However, of the approximately 430 Anopheles species, only 30-40 transmit malaria and many of them have become resistant to insecticides through years of pesticide use. It is also considered a transmitter of heart worm in dogs. Anopheles home-in on human body odors; from the carbon dioxide in our breath to the ammonia in our sweaty feet

Anopheles quadrimaculatus is the chief carrier of malaria. While Culex mosquitoes can breed and thrive in stagnant or polluted water, the Anopheles mosquitoes prefer to lay eggs in permanent pools of water with vegetation, such as ponds, lakes and swamps. Active principally at night, they are vicious biters who prefer large mammals and humans, and attack after dusk.
Anopheles freeborni : This species is the principal malaria vector in the arid and semiarid western U.S. (Carpenter and LaCasse 1955). They are more active at dusk and during the night but occasionally do attack man during the daylight hours in dense shade or on cloudy days.

4. Ochlerotatus
Ochlerotatus mosquitoes are painful and persistent biters, attacking during daylight hours (not at night). They do not enter dwellings, and they prefer to bite mammals like humans. Ochlerotatus mosquitoes are strong fliers.

Ochlerotatus triseriatus; This species is typically considered a troublesome biter in wooded areas and will readily attack humans anytime of the day.
Ochlerotatus canadensis; This long-lived mosquito is the primary suspect in the transmission of heartworm to dogs and a possible suspect in the transmission of EEEV from birds to humans.

5. Culiseta
Culiseta mosquitoes are moderately aggressive biters, attacking in the evening hours or in shade during the day. In summer, the most common breeding area for these mosquitoes is backyard fishponds.

Culiseta melanura favors acid water and is normally found in acid bogs with a pH of 5.0 or lower. It is a mosquito species that is not attracted to mammals and feeds almost entirely on birds. The mosquito is responsible for maintaining EEEV in bird populations.

6. Coquillettidia
A genus of large, mostly yellow, viciously biting, fresh-water mosquitoes.

Coquillettidia perturbans is t is a night biter but will bite in the shade during the day if disturbed. A strong flier, it will fly several kilometers in search of a host.

3. Collecting Data and Reporting Findings

We went to Puskesmas Pondok Labu to deepen our understanding about mosquitoes and the diseases caused by them.

We chose 6 thinking hats to write our reflection after our fieldtrip.

We interviewed the community in Al jabr about where and when the mosquitoes bit them. Then we created a bar graph. From this activity, we know that mosquitoes in Al Jabr are active during the days. From our interview, most people got bitten by mosquitoes in the playground during the days.

4. Experimenting and Playing with Possibilities

Our Experiment Catching Mosquitoes

Mosquito Predator

1. Dragonfly

3. Guppy

2. Spider

5. Deepening Understanding Through the Application of A Concept

During our action, we put several plants such as lavender, rosemary, and citronella near canteen to avoid the growth of mosquito population. We also put numbers of guppy in the school pond. The action was supervised by Mr. Arie.

Second action: Amar had an idea to make citronella oil. To know whether it worked or not, we applied the oil on some people's skin. The result, it worked on some people's skin, but not for others.

We don't keep our knowledge our own. We presented all about mosquitoes; the types, the danger, how to prevent mosquito from biting us, and the habitat of mosquito. We also donated some plants to repel mosquitoes to SDN 13 Pondok Labu.

Ihsan had an idea to make juice from papaya leaves for people to drink. This juice will prevent mosquitoes from biting us up to 5 weeks.