Daughters of Hades

The swampy, marshy southernmost regions of The Ncr are year-round breeding grounds for these damned mosquitoes.

There might be a few weeks of sweet reprieve from the vicious, bloodsucking pests in December or January, when temperatures occasionally dip low enough to kill off the state bird of Uttar Pradesh. Other than that, you've got no choice but to cover up every patch of skin before stepping outside and invest in SC Johnson products by the dozens when you're hosting a gathering at home. Fending off mosquito attacks is a part of daily life.

Office is particularly bad today. Some not-quite-bright support staff must have left a window open. The place is teeming with hordes of vermin. Stepping outside into the muggy air this morning, I lit my cigarette and joined a small group of fellow workers congregating in the designated area. A guy who reminds me of Silvio Berlusconi used his to motion toward a mammoth mosquito hovering near me. That's a big one. A big male. Won't bite you. The males don't bite. That's his statement.

Another guy, one of the young and bright from Solutions, chimed in. But it has a stinger. So it still bites, right? Otherwise, it wouldn't have it. His know-it-all grin drips with rhetoric.

The smoke-wielding Berlusconi again said that only female mosquitoes suck blood, using it to nourish their eggs.

I exhaled, crushed my cigarette out on the filthy bin, and nodded farewell to my smoking buddies.

Age before beauty, isn't that how the saying goes? Berlusconi, even surrounded by his cheap smelling smoke, was right.

From Wiki:

Both male and female mosquitoes are nectar feeders, but the females of many species are also capable of hematophagy (drinking blood). Females do not require blood for their own survival, but they do need supplemental substances such as protein and iron to develop eggs. Mosquitoes are crepuscular (dawn or dusk) feeders. During the heat of the day most mosquitoes rest in a cool place and wait for the evenings. They may still bite if disturbed. Mosquitoes are adept at infiltration and have been known to find their way into residences via deactivated air conditioning units.

And...

Males live for about a week, feeding on nectar and other sources of sugar. Females will also feed on sugar sources for energy but usually require a blood meal for the development of eggs. After obtaining a full blood meal, the female will rest for a few days while the blood is digested and eggs are developed. This process depends on the temperature but usually takes 2–3 days in tropical conditions. Once the eggs are fully developed, the female lays them and resumes host seeking.

Damnation! All those times I was covered from head to toe with the small, misshapen welts from the devil mosquito - Every single one of them was from a female ?

Those bloodsucking, traitorous bitches.

Currently Listening to - Fuel - Hemmorhage (In my hands)