Which mosquitoes sting people: males only, females only, or both?

That annoying buzz in your ear and the itchy welt that follows is exclusively the work of female mosquitoes. The primary diet for both male and female mosquitoes is actually plant nectar and other sweet juices, which they use for energy. However, for a female to reproduce, she requires a blood meal. Male mosquitoes have no need for blood and are physically incapable of biting, as they lack the specialized mouthparts designed for piercing skin. Instead, they spend their short lives feeding on nectar and pollinating plants.

The reason for the female's blood-sucking behavior is purely reproductive. Our blood is packed with the specific proteins and nutrients, like iron, that are essential for her to produce and develop her eggs. Without a blood meal, most female mosquitoes cannot create a viable batch of eggs. This drive is so strong that a female can consume up to three times her own body weight in blood in a single feeding.

After she has had her fill, she will rest for a few days while her body converts the nutrients from the blood into eggs. Once the eggs are developed, she will lay them in a suitable location, often in or near standing water. This cycle of feeding and laying eggs will repeat throughout her lifespan, which is why a single female mosquito can be responsible for hundreds of offspring and, consequently, many itchy bites.