A full mosquito must be much heavier than an empty one 鈥� and they can consume a lot of blood. What is it about the mosquito that allows it to carry such a heavy load? And what is the percentage increase in body weight between a mosquito that hasn鈥檛 had a meal of blood and one that has? How does its pro-rata load-carrying ability compare with that of, say, a buzzard or vulture, which must also gorge when the opportunity presents itself?
Bill Reed Davie, Florida, US
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