Little-Known Facts about Mosquitoes

(There are approximately 3,500 species of mosquitoes, so behavior can vary)

• Only female mosquitoes bite when they want to reproduce, otherwise they prefer flower nectar. The males also survive on flower nectar and don’t take blood meals.
• Humans typically aren’t a mosquito’s first choice for food. Some species prefer to bite only birds.
• Studies show that mosquitoes generally prefer to bite men rather than women.
• Pregnant women are more often bitten because of their increased carbon dioxide output.
• Overweight people are at a greater risk for mosquito bites.
• Mosquitoes can smell carbon dioxide emitted from your body from over 75 feet away.
• Daytime mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) are more likely to carry dengue fever, while nighttime mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae)carry malaria.
• The average lifespan of a dengue-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito is only from two to four weeks.
• A 2013 study concluded that mosquitoes bite people with type “O” blood 83 percent more often.
• Genetics can account for 85 percent of the reason mosquitoes may prefer you instead of another nearby victim.
• Mosquitoes can smell lactic acid in sweat and are drawn to bite.