Which gender of mosquitoes takes a blood meal?

The correct answer is that female mosquitoes are the ones that take a blood meal. This behavior is essential for their reproductive process. Females require the nutrients found in blood, such as proteins and iron, to develop their eggs. After mating, a female mosquito seeks out a blood meal to ensure that she can produce and lay viable eggs.

Males, on the other hand, primarily feed on nectar and other plant sugars, which provide them with the energy they need for survival. They do not have the physiological adaptations necessary for blood-feeding, such as specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and access blood vessels.

Overall, it is the feeding habits of the female mosquitoes that play a significant role in their life cycle and impact mosquito populations, making their blood-feeding behavior crucial in the context of mosquito control efforts.