Mosquito is a Spanish word meaning "little fly", with its use dates back to about 1583. Before then, they were called "biting flies" in English, but the term "mosquito" was adopted to prevent confusion with the house fly.

The female mosquito (in almost all species) sucks the blood of mammals, including humans. Mosquito bites often swell up hours after happening, causing a red ringed white bump about a centimeter in diameter. This bump can itch for days and over-scratching the bite can cause it to bleed. Mosquito bites can transmit diseases, such as malaria and West Nile Virus, so authorities in many areas take measures to reduce mosquito populations through pesticides or more organic means. An easy way to reduce mosquito populations in a residential area is the removal of standing water (where mosquitoes breed), and the use of repellents, such as DEET. TVA manages the rive lakes by lowering the lake levels in Winter and then after the mosquito's have breed the lake levels are raised so that fish can eat the larvae.

Links

http://www.mosquito-netting.com/treatment.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquitoes

http://www2.state.tn.us/health/Ceds/WNV/wnvhome.asp