Why do mosquitoes eat me alive and leave others alone?Edit: Looking for NEW information! Not the same ole.
Why do mosquitoes eat me alive and leave others alone?Edit: Looking for NEW information! Not the same ole.
Any new research this year?
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Mosquitoes find their prey using three senses:
First by CO2, as mammals will be releasing it in big quantities (though they also bite reptiles). Second, by body smell, which as others here have mentioned, diet and genetics may dictate how it is affected. Third by shape (that's when they are already there) and are trying to figure out where to stick it.The first one is hard to fix, so for the second I'll recommend icaridin or, if not available DEET, and in gel form not spray. DEET can be a skin irritant, hence why is less preferred.
Spray though is sometimes used when applying it to clothing, as it also may have your smell attached to it.
For the third one, I haven't seen conclusive data but a lot of observational studies: from wearing light-colored ample clothing that doesn't define the limbs to (I guess) wearing stripes like a zebra.
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7945690/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4173961/ https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-mosquitoes-detect-people https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-22333-7 https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/the-chemistry-of-mosquito-attraction
And a lifetime in humid climates like the Bayou.
Do you have any experience using some kind of zapper or lamp or some other tool?
Some insects are attracted to light sources, but not mosquitos. They seek out the things our bayou friend already mentioned.
Isn't there something that emits co2 and then zaps them?
I guess I should just get a net and a hand held zapper?
Yes, there are propane powered mosquito traps that emit heat and CO2. Supposedly they are effective but costly.
They also have electric ones. They use a UV bulb and some titanium compound that releases CO2 when hit by UV, pretty neat and work decently once you interrupt the breeding cycle. Dynatrap is the popular brand I think.
Maybe you're onto something ;)
Lasers
Laser-carrying mosquitoes or mosquito-killing lasers?
Hey fellow smoothbrain. We take the mosquito's qi and channel it to get the most powerful laser.
Nothing really new here. Thanks though.