The typical food of mosquitoes is plant juices such as nectar. However, the female has mouth parts that allow her to obtain blood meals. She needs the nutrients present in the blood to produce eggs. If the female takes blood from a person with a disease like malaria, the disease protozoan reproduces in the gut of the female and then makes its way to her salivary glands. The protozoan is now ready to be transferred to the next victim along with the anticoagulant she has in her saliva.