10 Things You Didn’t Know About The London Underground
1. The London Underground Mosquito
If you were to stay on the Underground for too long, then you'd probably get a bit hot and become very agitated at all the people who leave chewing gum on the handrails. But it's unlikely that you'd evolve into an entirely new sub-species.
Unless, of course, you're a mosquito.
Your standard mozzie has the scientific name "culex pipiens", but the ones found on the London Underground have a different name - "culex molestus". That's right, the mosquitos living underground are a different genus to the ones living above ground.
The London Underground Mosquito, as it is now known, has numerous differences from its sun-seeing cousin. It is more resistant to cold weather and can breed all year round. Oh, and it is fond of biting humans. Hooray.
The species is so fond of biting humans that it actually became a real issue during The Blitz, as Londoners sheltered in Tube stations were routinely attacked. Presumably a young Jerry Springer was one of them.
Whilst this species did exist before The Tube, scientists believe that the ones living there today did evolve separately. This is a truly fascinating little bit of science and proof that the London Underground really is a world of its own.