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How mosquitos choose bite sites:

Posted by loosilu (aka loosilu2) Aug 17 '09, 07:54

Abstract While searching for blood, female mosquitoes pass through a behavioural process involving responses to visual, physical and chemical properties of the host. Temperature and humidity are thought to dominate mosquito orientation near the host. We observed that biting of two malaria mosquito species, i.e.Anopheles atroparvus (van Thiel) andAnopheles gambiae s.s. (Giles) preferentially occurs on different body regions of a naked motionless human host. Their preference for the head and foot regions respectively correlated with particular combinations of skin temperature and eccrine sweat gland density. Subsequent modification of the host's odour profile by removing exhaled breath and washing feet results in significant changes of these preferences.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/g77n58973112rux3/ (www.springerlink.com)

Responses:

I have found that bitey bugs are often attracted to blue shirts and clothing too (just my experience) -- nm - Beaker Aug 17, 07:58 7
- I was swarmed by gnats everythime I wore a particular yellow TShirt. - Cuzzin Todd Aug 17, 08:25 1
  - I read that as "cats" and could not stop giggling. -- nm - loosilu Aug 17, 08:34
- mosquitoes don't see blue, far as I know. would have to check. -- nm - loosilu Aug 17, 07:59 4
  - hmmm, found a couple of things. One site claims they are attracted to bright floral colors (huh?). another says attracted to dark colors because they - loosilu Aug 17, 08:00 3
    - the heat retention was my thought as to why -- nm - Beaker Aug 17, 08:00 2
      - that assumes you were talking about dark blue. true? -- nm - loosilu Aug 17, 08:01 1
        
        yup -- nm - Beaker Aug 17, 08:02
important to note: THey're attracted to heat and sweat. -- nm - loosilu Aug 17, 07:56

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How mosquitos choose bite sites:

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