Mosquitoes know who to bite - unexpected patterns found by scientists

Researchers at Florida International University have discovered that different species of mosquitoes react differently to human scents, and there is no universal "victim" for all insects. In an experiment with 119 volunteers, three species of mosquitoes and their preferences were studied.

Researchers at Florida International University conducted an experiment with 119 volunteers from Miami to find out why mosquitoes bite some people more often than others. Participants placed their hand in a special device that allowed insects to sense the scent but not contact the skin. Scientists observed three species of mosquitoes: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus. The results showed that a person attractive to one species is not necessarily interesting to another — there is no universal "mosquito magnet." The study found no significant difference in attractiveness between men and women. Special attention was paid to the skin microbiome: participants had 246 bacterial taxa, with three types of bacteria (Corynebacterium kefirresidentii, Cutibacterium granulosum, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) more common in people attractive to all three mosquito species. However, a causal relationship was not proven. Scientists hope this data will help develop more effective repellents targeting specific chemical signals that attract insects.