Mosquitoes Don't Choose Victims by Chance — Scientists Reveal the Main Secret

Scientists from Florida International University found that mosquitoes choose victims by smell, which depends on skin bacteria. In an experiment with 119 volunteers and three mosquito species, Aedes aegypti more often chose men, and attractiveness to one species did not guarantee attractiveness to another. Key roles are played by bacteria Corynebacterium kefirresidentii and Cutibacterium granulosum. The results could help create new repellents.

Scientists from Florida International University have discovered that mosquitoes do not choose their victims randomly, but rather by specific signals from the body. In an experiment involving 119 volunteers, researchers used an olfactometer to observe which odors attract insects. Three mosquito species were tested: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus. It turned out that Aedes aegypti more often chose men, while for the other two species, sex did not matter. Attractiveness to one species did not guarantee attractiveness to another, as different insects respond to different combinations of chemical substances. The skin microbiome plays a key role: in people who attracted all three species, bacteria Corynebacterium kefirresidentii and Cutibacterium granulosum were found. These bacteria interact with skin secretions, forming volatile organic compounds that mosquitoes recognize. It also turned out that some mosquitoes seek attractive compounds, while others filter out people with repellent components in their scent. The results could help develop new repellents that target specific chemical signals.