Mosquito. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a mosquito (family Culicidae). The head (upper left) has compound eyes (red). The thorax (upper centre) and abdomen (centre right) form the main part of the body, with the wings partially seen (top right). The six legs (several seen) are attached to the thorax. The elongated structures extending from the head to bottom left are, from left to right: the two antennae (attached to the head between the eyes), several labial palps, and the proboscis (thickest structure). The proboscis is used to pierce the skin of humans and other mammals and feed on blood. Some mosquito species transmit diseases such as malaria.