Ancient Male Mosquitoes Likely Fed on Blood, Fossil Discovery Suggests
The groundbreaking study, revealing well-preserved male mosquito fossils with piercing mouthparts, challenges current understanding of mosquito evolution.
- Researchers have discovered the oldest known fossil mosquitoes in Lebanese amber, suggesting that ancient male mosquitoes likely fed on blood.
- The well-preserved insects are two males of the same species with piercing mouthparts, a trait only seen in modern-day female mosquitoes.
- The discovery suggests that the evolution of blood-feeding in mosquitoes was more complex than previously thought, with male mosquitoes in the past also likely being blood-feeders.
- The fossils extend the definitive occurrence of the mosquito family of insects into the early Cretaceous period.
- The researchers plan to investigate why being blood-feeders was advantageous to Cretaceous male mosquitoes and why this trait no longer exists.
ScienceDaily 
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