Understanding mosquito-biting habits can help prevent mosquito-borne infections.
Mosquitoes form an integral part of the environment that we humans live in. Like human beings, mosquitoes have their own biological life cycle. Male mosquitos feed on nectar from the flowers. On the other hand, female mosquitoes bite human beings for their feeding. Certain proteins present in human blood are needed by mosquitoes to produce their eggs. It is during this process of biting the human being that the female mosquito injects its saliva into human blood.
This in turn leads to various vector-borne infections like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, zika virus infections, etc. Some of these infections have the potential to trigger an epidemic as well. Millions of deaths happen worldwide due to vector-borne infections, most of these deaths happening in the Third World.
To prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of vector-borne infections, it's important to understand their biting habits. Dr Mayur Manji Mewada, Associate Professor and Unit Head of the Department of Medicine at KJ Somaiya Medical College & Research Centre in Mumbai provides valuable insights on this topic.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEMALE MOSQUITO AND THE BITING HABITS
As discussed above, it is the female mosquito that thrives on human blood and therefore bites human beings. The female mosquito locates its target/victim (the human being) by its eyesight as well as by special antennas that it possesses.
These special antennas are sensitive to detecting heat signals, carbon dioxide, moisture, chemical smells, and signals. By using its eyes and antennas, the female mosquito is attracted to certain human beings for its blood meals more than other human beings. Here we discuss important reasons why some of us are more prone to be a mosquito magnet.
1. Clothing
Mosquitoes are more attracted to clothes darker than light-fingered ones. Also, wearing half-sleeved clothes / short clothes can give more surface area for biting.
Aedes, a species of mosquito that is responsible for causing dengue, prefers to bite on the hands rather than the legs. Compared to this, Anopheles species of mosquito that are responsible for causing malaria prefer to bite on the legs.
Hence, it is advisable to wear full clothes during monsoons/fever epidemics. Also, wearing light-colored clothes can be helpful in escaping the eyes of the mosquito.
2. Blood Group
There is enough scientific data that suggests the preference of mosquitoes biting humans with certain blood groups more than others.
Humans with the blood group “O” attract more mosquitoes compared to other blood groups. It is speculated that blood group-specific chemicals are released into the skin of humans which attract the mosquitoes.
3. Body Heat
The antennas present with the female mosquito are heat-sensitive. They can detect temperature fluctuations as small as 1 degree Celsius from a far distance.
Humans who have more heat generated in their bodies are more prone to attract mosquitoes. Obese people or athletic people who have more metabolism and more heat production in the body are easy magnets for the female mosquito.
4. Carbon Dioxide in exhaled air
The mosquito antennas are also sensitive to the level of carbon dioxide present in the air. Hence, those who have more metabolism and are producing more carbon dioxide in their exhaled air attract more mosquitoes.
Fast breathing, higher metabolism, and excessive sweating can all be interrelated and are all responsible for attracting female mosquitoes.
5. Skin Sweat and Microorganisms
Every human has some bacteria that live in harmony in their body without making them ill. These bacteria are called commensals. Also, every human being produces sweat on their skin that has a peculiar odor (smell) and peculiar characteristics.
Certain odors and chemicals produced more in a particular individual make them prone to attract female mosquitoes.
6. Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an important milestone and health event in the life of every female. A lot of changes happen in a female's body and her physiology during pregnancy.
Pregnancy hormones lead to more metabolism and more heat production in the body. Enhanced heat production combined with an increase in body temperature leads to increased attraction for the female mosquito.
Excessive/heavy breathing that happens towards the latter half of the pregnancy leads to more carbon dioxide exhalation from the lungs and serves to attract the female mosquito.
7. Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption leads to an increase in body heat, increased body metabolism, and increased sweating. All these factors favor increased attraction to female mosquitoes.
Understanding the biting habits of mosquito combined with regular use of mosquito repellents can significantly reduce the incidence of mosquito bites. This must be supported by community-level projects like DDT spraying and environmental hygiene.
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