Marvels of the Mosquito: A Sign of The Most Forbearing Creation and Wisdom

Mosquito

As mentioned, in many verses of the Quran, The Most Forbearing commands humans to observe nature and see the "signs" within it. All living and non-living beings in the universe are enveloped by signs that show they are all "created," that they exhibit the power, knowledge, and artistry of their "Creator." Humans are responsible for recognizing these signs using their intellects, to glorify The Most Forbearing.

Although all living creatures possess these signs, The Most Forbearing specifically refers to some signs in the Quran. The mosquito is one of them, mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 26.

Mosquitoes are often regarded as ordinary and insignificant creatures. However, mosquitoes are meaningful to study and ponder upon because they contain signs of The Most Forbearing greatness. 

A mature male mosquito, ready for mating, will use its antennae—its auditory organs—to locate a female mosquito. The function of the male mosquito's antenna is different from that of the female mosquito. The fine hairs at the tip of its antenna are sensitive to the sounds emitted by the female mosquito. Right beside the male mosquito's genitalia, there is a body part that aids in gripping the female mosquito during airborne mating. Male mosquitoes fly in groups, resembling a cloud. When a female enters the group, a successful male mosquito will grip the female and mate with her while in flight. The mating is short-lived, and the male mosquito returns to its group after mating. From that point on, the female mosquito requires blood for the development of her eggs.

The Remarkable Journey of the Mosquito

Generally, mosquitoes are known as bloodsuckers and feeders. This perception isn't entirely accurate, as only the female mosquito sucks blood. Furthermore, the female mosquito doesn't require blood for sustenance. Both male and female mosquitoes primarily feed on flower nectar. The female mosquito sucks blood solely because she needs the protein within it to aid in egg development. In other words, the female mosquito sucks blood to ensure the survival of her species.

The developmental process of mosquitoes is one of the most impressive and astonishing aspects. Here's a brief account of the transformation of a tiny larva into a mosquito through several stages:

Mosquito eggs, nourished by blood, are laid by the female mosquito on damp leaves or dry ponds during the summer or autumn seasons. The mother examines the soil surface thoroughly using delicate receptors under her abdomen. Once she finds a suitable spot, she begins laying eggs. These eggs are less than one millimeter long, arranged in a row, in clusters, or individually. Some species lay eggs in a particular form, attached together to resemble a raft. A group of eggs can consist of up to 300 eggs.

These neatly arranged white eggs quickly darken in color and turn black within a few hours. This black color provides protection for the larvae, making them less visible to birds or other insects. Aside from the eggs, the skin color of some larvae also changes according to the environment, enhancing their protection.

Larvae change color by utilizing specific factors through various complex chemical processes. It's clear that the eggs, larvae, or even the mosquito parent are not aware of the processes behind the color changes during the mosquito's development stages. It's impossible for them to create this system by themselves. This system couldn't have formed by mere chance. Mosquitoes have been created with this system since their very first appearance.

Hatching of Eggs

After the incubation period, the larvae begin to emerge from the eggs almost simultaneously. The continuously feeding larvae grow rapidly. Their skin soon becomes tight, preventing further growth. This signifies it's time for their first molt. At this stage, their hard and fragile skin easily breaks. Mosquito larvae shed their skin two more times until their development is complete.

The larval feeding method is astonishing. They create a small vortex in the water using two hairy, fan-like body parts. This vortex draws bacteria or other microorganisms into their mouth. Hanging upside down in the water, they breathe through a snorkel-like air tube. A thick fluid is released to prevent water from entering the breathing hole. In short, this organism survives through intricate balances that are interdependent and reciprocal. Without the air tube, it couldn't survive. Without the thick fluid, the breathing tube would fill with water. The simultaneous development of these two systems would cause death at this stage. This demonstrates that the mosquito's entire system is complete from the beginning. In other words, it has been created.

The larvae molt once again. This final molt is somewhat different. In this stage, the larvae enter their last developmental phase, the pupal stage. The pupal casing becomes very tight. This indicates that it's time for the larvae to exit the pupal case. The creature emerging from the pupa is so different that it's hard to believe both forms are two developmental phases of the same creature. As evident, this transformation process is too complex and intricate to be designed by either the larvae or female mosquitoes...

During this final development stage, the larvae face a threat to their breathing, as the air tube reaching the water surface becomes closed. From this point on, mosquitoes no longer use this tube for breathing; instead, they use two new tubes that appear at the front of their bodies. Hence, these tubes protrude above the water surface before molting. The mosquito inside the pupa is now mature. It's ready to fly, complete with all its organs and organelles, including antennae, body, legs, thorax, wings, abdomen, and large eyes.

The pupal case splits at the top. The greatest danger at this stage is water leaking into the pupal case. However, the torn upper part of the pupal case is covered with a special viscous fluid, which protects the mosquito's head from water contact. This moment is crucial. To avoid falling into the water and being killed by the wind, the mosquito must climb onto the water surface, with only its legs touching the water. It succeeds.

How did the mosquito first acquire the "ability" to transform like this? Could a larva "decide" to become a mosquito after three molts? Certainly not! It is evident that this tiny living being, used as a metaphor by The Most Forbearing, has been created in such a specific manner.

Respiratory System

In their respiratory system, larvae suck in air through a hollow tube that extends to the water's surface. Meanwhile, the larvae hang upside down beneath the water. A viscous fluid prevents water from entering the hole used by the larvae for breathing.

Gnats during their pupal stages = Nyamuk dalam tahap kepompong

When mosquitoes emerge from the water, their heads must not touch the water at all. Even a moment without breathing could be fatal. Even a gentle breeze or small ripple on the water's surface can have deadly consequences for the mosquito.

How Do Mosquitoes Perceive the Outside World?

Mosquitoes are equipped with highly sensitive heat receptors. They perceive everything around them in various colors based on the heat, as seen in the image on the right. Since their perception is not dependent on light, mosquitoes can easily locate blood vessels in a dark room. The heat receptors on mosquitoes are sensitive enough to detect temperature differences as small as 1/1000°C.

Fascinating Bloodsucking Technique

The mosquito's technique for bloodsucking relies on a complex system that coordinates the cooperation of various highly detailed structures. After landing on its target, the mosquito first detects a point with its labium, a mouthpart. The mosquito's sting, resembling a syringe, is protected by a special sheath that opens during the bloodsucking process.

Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes don't puncture the skin by thrusting their proboscis with force. The main task is carried out by the sharp upper jaw and the lower jaw, which has backward-curved teeth. The mosquito moves its lower jaw back and forth like a saw and slices the skin with the help of the upper jaw. When the sting penetrates through this skin incision and reaches a blood vessel, the drilling process ends. Now it's time for the mosquito to suck blood.

However, as we know, even a slight injury to a blood vessel triggers the human body to release enzymes that clot the blood and stop the leakage. This enzyme poses a problem for the mosquito, as the human body will quickly react by clotting the blood at the mosquito's bite site and closing the wound. This means the mosquito won't be able to suck blood anymore.

Nevertheless, this issue is overcome. Before starting to suck blood, the mosquito injects a special fluid from its body into the open incision. This fluid neutralizes the blood-clotting enzyme. Thus, the mosquito can suck the blood it needs without blood clotting. The itchiness and swelling at the mosquito's bite point are caused by this anti-coagulant fluid.

This is truly an extraordinary process that raises the following questions:

1. How does the mosquito know there are clotting enzymes in the human body?

2. To produce the enzyme-neutralizing fluid, the mosquito needs to understand its chemical structure. How is this possible?

3. Even if somehow the mosquito gains this knowledge (!), how does it produce this fluid in its own body and create the necessary "technical chain" to transfer the fluid to its proboscis?

The answer to all these questions is clear: the mosquito cannot perform all these actions. It lacks intelligence, chemical knowledge, or the "laboratory" environment necessary to produce such a fluid. We're talking about a mosquito that is just a few millimeters long, without any intelligence or cognition!

It's evident that The Most Forbearing, the Lord of the heavens, the earth, and everything within them, has created mosquitoes and humans, and endowed mosquitoes with these extraordinary and astonishing abilities.