With the beauty of summer comes the dangers of Mosquitoes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers mosquitoes the “world’s deadliest animal” due to their ability to spread life-threatening diseases like malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, and Zika virus. Due to climate change, mosquito-borne diseases are on the rise. For example, the Southern Nevada Health District recently reported unprecedented mosquito activity, with over 3,000 mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus.
“Mosquitoes are attracted to certain colors, particularly red and black, while avoiding white and green.”
But there are actions we can take to prevent mosquito-borne diseases, including being aware of the colors and scents we wear. Recent studies have revealed that mosquitoes are drawn to specific scents and colors. Warmer weather encourages outdoor activities, increasing the likelihood of mosquito bites. If you find yourself frequently bitten, it could be due to your scent or the colors you wear.
“If you think you are a mosquito magnet, you probably are,” says Jeffrey Riffell, a biology professor at the University of Washington who specializes in mosquito sensory systems. His team is researching how mosquitoes locate their food sources. Male mosquitoes consume nectar for sugar, while females require blood to lay eggs.
“Female mosquitoes track humans by following scent trails from skin, sweat, and the carbon dioxide we exhale”
According to the study, mosquitoes are incredibly adept at finding humans to drink their blood. They are like vampires, with senses finely tuned to locate and bite us. Riffell research found that female mosquitoes track humans by following scent trails from skin, sweat, and the carbon dioxide we exhale.
Additionally, mosquitoes are attracted to certain colors, particularly red and black, while avoiding white and green.
“Unfortunately, mosquitoes can learn. If they find you attractive and successfully bite you, they’ll remember and return,” Riffell says. “The good news is they can also learn to avoid you if you frequently swat at them.”
University of Washington biology PhD student Melissa Leon Norena adds that mosquitoes can detect various sugar sources, including fruits. Researchers are working on creating scents that attract mosquitoes, potentially allowing them to lace these scents with toxins to control the population.
“Scents can be turned into perfumes infused with a toxin to eliminate the insects effectively.”
Riffell and his team’s current research can have significant real-world future applications and could help many people worldwide.
For instance, given that mosquitoes are attracted to the sugars in fruits, researchers are developing synthetic scents that mimic these attractive aromas. If mosquitoes are lured to these scents, scientists can turn them into perfumes infused with a toxin to eliminate the insects effectively.
About the author:
Dr. Edison de Mello – the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Akasha Center in Santa Monica – is a Board-Certified Integrative Physician and licensed psychotherapist. Dr. de Mello believes the most effective and, hence, cost-effective way to improve medical care is for physicians to” Meet Their Patients Before They Meet Their DIS-EASES.” He frequently writes for publications and appears on integrative medicine podcasts. His book “BLOATED” provides accessible information on bloating with humor.
