3 ways mosquitoes find you outdoors
According to a study by Caltech Researchers, mosquitoes use three primary ways to find hosts in which to feed upon: Olfactory (Smell), Visual, Thermal (Heat).
Olfactory – Sense of Smell
Mosquitoes are known to be attracted to CO2 (which humans exhale when we breath) this means that every time you breath you are attracting mosquitoes to you.
Visual
Mosquitoes use their vision or visual senses to find an individual or “host” to feed on. The study showed that female mosquitoes search for the visual outline of a host after they have sensed CO2.
Thermal “Heat”
Mosquitoes use thermal patterns (heat) to find hosts as well. The study showed that mosquitoes are attracted to a warmer object.
So how do mosquitoes use these three senses to find a host to feed on?
Researches say the visual attraction and attraction to a warm object are independent, however generally the mosquito can see father away so the visual pickup happens first. Then once the mosquito is closer it can pick up the heat and thermal makeup.
Olfactory – Sense of Smell
Mosquitoes are known to be attracted to CO2 (which humans exhale when we breath) this means that every time you breath you are attracting mosquitoes to you.
Visual
Mosquitoes use their vision or visual senses to find an individual or “host” to feed on. The study showed that female mosquitoes search for the visual outline of a host after they have sensed CO2.
Thermal “Heat”
Mosquitoes use thermal patterns (heat) to find hosts as well. The study showed that mosquitoes are attracted to a warmer object.
So how do mosquitoes use these three senses to find a host to feed on?
Researches say the visual attraction and attraction to a warm object are independent, however generally the mosquito can see father away so the visual pickup happens first. Then once the mosquito is closer it can pick up the heat and thermal makeup.
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Sources:
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/58906/
http://www.caltech.edu/news/mosquitoes-use-smell-see-their-hosts-47338