Female mosquitoes bite humans and animals specifically to obtain blood because they need the proteins and nutrients it contains to produce eggs.
The Blood Meal's Purpose
Unlike male mosquitoes, which feed on nectar and plant juices, female mosquitoes require a "blood meal" to reproduce. The proteins and iron in blood are essential building blocks for developing eggs. Without this blood meal, female mosquitoes cannot lay viable eggs.
How Mosquitoes Find Us
Mosquitoes have evolved sophisticated ways to locate their prey. They use their:
- Antennae: To detect carbon dioxide (CO2) that we exhale.
- Palps: Organs located between the antennae, to sense body odor, sweat, and other chemical signals.
- Vision: To spot movement and contrasting colors.
These factors combine to make certain individuals more attractive to mosquitoes than others.
Blood and Egg Production
The proteins from the blood are broken down and used to synthesize yolk proteins that are deposited in the developing eggs. The more blood a female mosquito consumes, the more eggs she can produce. This direct link between blood intake and egg production is the driving force behind their blood-sucking behavior.
