How do mosquitoes locate the source of blood in both humans and animals?

When adult mosquito emerge from the aquatic stage they mate, and the female seeks a mammalian blood meal to obtain protein necessary for the development of her eggs. Mosquitoes are attracted by perspiration, warmth, body odour, carbon dioxide and light. Scientists are still investigating the complexities involved with mosquito-host acceptance and rejection. Some people are highly attractive to mosquito while others are not.

Mosquitoes have specific requirements to satisfy and process many different factors before they feed. Many of the mosquito’s physiological demands are poorly understood and many of the process they use to evaluate potential blood meal hosts remain a mystery. Female mosquitoes use the CO2 we exhale as their primary cue location.

A host seeking mosquito is guided to our skin by following the slip stream of CO2 that exudes from our breath. Once they have landed, they rely on a number of short range attractants to determine if we are an acceptable blood meal host.

Folic acid is one chemical that appears to be particularly important, fragrances from hair sprays, perfumes, deodorants and soap can cover these chemical uses. They can also function to either enhance or repel the host seeking drive. Dark colour captures heat and makes people more attractive. Detergents, fabric softeners, perfumes and body odour can counteract the effects of flour.