How mosquitoes choose their victims

American biologists recently found out that mosquitoes have favorite colors. In an experiment conducted by staff at the University of Washington, mosquitoes more often reacting to people in red, orange, black and blue clothes, but people in green, purple, blue and white clothes were not attacked by mosquitoes.

Despite the fact that the study showed that insects are selective in colors, the main criterion for finding their prey in mosquitoes is the organ of smell.

Scientists from the same university in 2015 reproduced the full cycle of mosquito hunting using a wind tunnel.

The first step in the search for a mosquito victim is to identify traces of carbon dioxide in the air: mosquitoes can smell the "waste" of the breath of living creatures at a distance of 50 meters.

At a distance of about 5-15 meters, the vision is already turned on. Having found the victim in the field of view, the mosquito starts aiming, revealing the optimal place for landing. You often noticed this stage when the mosquito made long flights around you. You should know that at this point, it is looking for the best surface to land on for a bite. By the way, at this moment its “weapon” is on alert.

There are a number of scents that repel mosquitoes. Many people have heard about the smell of a fire and pine needles, but the fact that the smell of garlic scares the bloodsuckers away can be a discovery for you. By the way, you don't have to eat it. Just peel it and put it close to you. If you grate it, it will enhance the effect.