Does a mosquito know who to bite?

Answer

Dear Cecilia

The mosquitoes are initially attracted to carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide, this is a gas that is continuously exhaled by us. That way the mosquitoes can find us in the darkness. But our body heat and specific fragrances on the human skin surface also attract mosquitoes.

At present, these odorants are regarded as the most important group of stimuli influencing the mosquitoes’ searching behaviour. Lactic acid, fatty acids and ammonia are excreted through our skin. The bacteria on our skin convert these products into those fragrances. These fragrances differ from person to person and cause a characteristic odor in everyone that mosquitoes are attracted to. Every person has a different scent.

If you are alone in the bedroom, a mosquito will always bite you. If you are in a bedroom with several people, the mosquito will choose the “tastiest snack”. A person who is stung frequently simply sweats more or has a higher concentration or different composition of chemicals that attract mosquitoes. These odorants are perceived by the mosquitoes with a special scent device that is located on the feelers or antennae.

Only the female mosquitoes bite because they need proteins for the production of the eggs. When a mosquito has found a blood donor, it sticks its suction snout (hollow tube) through our skin and injects some saliva into it. It is this saliva that ensures that our blood does not clot so that the mosquito can continue to drink blood until enough proteins have been produced. A mosquito can suck up to 3 times its own body weight in blood. This saliva (anticoagulant) causes an allergic reaction in us, which can cause swelling that can also itch violently.

Kind regards

Hans