Selective bloodsuckers: how mosquitoes choose victims (5 photos)

American biologists recently discovered that mosquitoes have favorite colors. In an experiment conducted by researchers at the University of Washington, mosquitoes were more likely to react to people wearing red, orange, black and blue clothes, but mosquitoes did not attack people wearing green, purple, blue and white clothes.





Despite the fact that the study showed that insects are selective in flowers, the main criterion for finding their prey in mosquitoes is the organ of smell.



Scientists from the same university in 2015 reproduced the complete hunting cycle of a mosquito using a wind tunnel.





The first step in finding a mosquito victim is to detect traces of carbon dioxide in the air: mosquitoes can smell the “waste” breath of living creatures at a distance of 50 meters.



At a distance of about 5-15 meters, vision also turns on. Having found a victim in its field of view, the mosquito begins shooting, identifying the optimal place for landing. You often noticed this stage when the mosquito carried out long flights around you. Know that at this moment, he is looking for a surface where it would be best to land for a bite. By the way, at this moment his “weapon” is in combat readiness mode.



There are a number of scents that repel mosquitoes. If many have heard about the smell of fire and pine needles, then the fact that blood-sucking people are repelled by the smell of garlic may be a revelation for you. By the way, it is not necessary to eat it. Just clean it and put it nearby. If you grate it, it will enhance the effect.