Why Mosquitoes Bite? - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz

Oh my! Oh, hello kids. It's not what you're thinking. I'm not scared of that mosquito. Okay, now since the topic is buzzing around, let me take you into the creepy world of this blood sucking, biting, itching tiny creatures. The most dangerous predator on the planet, who is responsible for the death of billions. It's none other than the mighty mosquito. So, let me tell you more about these pesky little creatures. Zoom in! Mosquitoes are part of a large group of insects called flies and are found everywhere in the world, including in your houses. There are nearly 3500 species of mosquitoes, but they all serve just one purpose. They bite and suck blood. So, how do they do it? Let's find the answer to this itchy question. After finding its prime target, the mosquito will spread some saliva on its prey skin that acts like an antiseptic in order to numb the spot, so that you don't notice its evil intention. Then it buries a part of its mouth deep into your skin. This part is known as the proboscis that kind of looks like a straw. With its proboscis underneath your skin, the mosquito hunts for a blood vessel. When it finds one, it again releases saliva into the wound which contains a substance called an anticoagulant that keeps your blood flowing. And if it succeeds, one mosquito can drink blood up to 3 times of its body weight and can transmit potentially deadly diseases like Malaria, Dengue, Zika, etc. And if not that, it inevitably leaves an itchy red bump on your skin. Phew! Thank goodness you can't see this process. Ouch! So, what can you do to treat the mosquito bite and make the itch go away? First of all, don't scratch it. As tempting as it might be, avoid scratching mosquito bites. Scratching can further hurt the skin. Instead, wash the area with mild soapy water. This process will often help decrease the itchy sensation. Trivia Time! Did you know that only female mosquitoes bite? To reduce the chances of getting bitten and contracting a mosquito-borne disease, start using a mosquito repellent. So kids, I hope you have learnt a lot about these tiny devils that bite us, annoy us and stop us from playing outside. But the most important thing we learnt today is that no matter how deadly mosquitoes are, I am not scared of them. Ouch! Okay kids, see you next time for some more fun facts. This is me zooming out. Help! Kids, you liked my videos, didn't you? Before you go, don't forget to click on the subscribe button and the bell so you won't miss out on my latest videos. See you.