This activity explores an image of a mosquito’s mouthparts, which serves as a phenomenon for learning about vectors of disease. 

Mosquitos are effective vectors that transmit disease-causing pathogens. Mosquitoes are the main vectors, for example, for the pathogens that cause dengue, chikungunya, West Nile fever, and Zika. Biologists and medical experts work to control the spread of vector-borne diseases by studying the life cycle, physiology, and behavior of vectors and the pathogens they carry. By understanding vectors and their pathogens, we can better understand how diseases spread and how to develop effective management and control strategies to reduce disease transmission.

The “Educator Materials” document includes background information and implementation suggestions for using the image as a phenomenon. The “Student Handout” includes the image and background information. 

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.