Why Mosquitoes Bite and Suck Blood, the People They Prefer to Bite, and Mosquito-Repellent Plants

Mosquitoes belong to the family Culicidae in the order Diptera of the class Insecta, and there are about 3000 species worldwide. They are tiny flying insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Usually the females feed on blood, while the males feed on plant sap. So do you know why mosquitoes suck blood? What kind of people do they like to bite? Which plants can repel mosquitoes?

1. Why mosquitoes suck blood

Because after mating, if the female mosquito does not suck blood, her eggs cannot develop and mature. After mating, each time a female mosquito sucks blood, she flies to the water surface to lay eggs once. After laying eggs several times, the female mosquito will die. Some female mosquitoes can also overwinter indoors. Most male mosquitoes also die soon after mating with a female.

2. What kind of people mosquitoes like to bite

1. Mosquitoes like people with developed sweat glands and high body temperature.

People who sweat easily have increased acidity in their blood, and the sweat they release makes the lactic acid level on the body surface relatively high, which attracts mosquitoes. In addition, there is a heat receptor in a mosquito's antennae, and it is very sensitive to temperature; it can immediately detect even a slight temperature difference. People who sweat dissipate body heat quickly, which also attracts mosquitoes.

2. Mosquitoes like people who are tired or breathe faster.

Mosquitoes find their prey by smell. Carbon dioxide has a strong attraction for mosquitoes. The small palps of mosquitoes have carbon dioxide receptors that can sense carbon dioxide, lactic acid and other substances. Mosquitoes can detect the carbon dioxide exhaled by a person from 15 m away.

After sports or physical labor, a person's breathing speeds up, and at this time relatively more carbon dioxide is exhaled. The carbon dioxide gas forms a moist, warm air current about 1 m above the head, and mosquitoes are quite sensitive to this and will come following the smell. By the same principle, people with a large vital capacity or a faster breathing rhythm also exhale more carbon dioxide, and mosquitoes gather and come after smelling it.

3. Mosquitoes like people who wear dark clothes.

Because black is the first choice for mosquito attacks; for example, Aedes mosquitoes (also called flower mosquitoes) most like to land on black clothes. Next are blue, red, green, etc. Mosquitoes do not like to bite people wearing white clothes. Similarly, mosquitoes like to bite people with darker skin or reddish skin.

4. Mosquitoes like people with a fast metabolism

Generally speaking, men attract mosquitoes more than women, young people more than older people, and healthy people more than sick people, because the secretions on the skin surface are greater. When women are menstruating, their secretions change, and they also attract mosquitoes more. Mosquitoes have “feeding tropism”; this is not because, as people imagine, certain people have delicate skin or sweet blood that attracts mosquitoes. The main reason is that certain odors on their bodies attract mosquitoes

5. Mosquitoes like pregnant women

Pregnant women are especially likely to attract mosquitoes. A US medical study showed that pregnant women are especially attractive to mosquitoes, and their chance of being bitten by mosquitoes is twice as high as that of other women.

3. Which plants can repel mosquitoes

1. Mosquito-repellent geranium

Scientific name: scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens). A perennial herbaceous plant. Its main stem can grow to 1 m. The leaves are green, have soft hairs, and carry a fragrance. It is vigorous and can be grown in pots for display.

It itself has an odor-release system, releasing substances such as citronellic acid from within into the air to achieve a mosquito-repellent effect.

2. Night-blooming cestrum

A shrub type, with flowers mostly yellow-green. Its fragrance assaults people at night, hence the name night-blooming cestrum. However, it should not be placed indoors, as it will affect people's breathing. Its flowers bloom in summer, and the fragrance they give off is especially feared by mosquitoes, making it very good for repelling mosquitoes.

3. Lavender

An herbaceous plant. It can be used to make essential oil, and aromatherapists especially like to use it. Its essential oil can soothe the nervous system and a person's mood, thereby improving sleep. The essential oil can also promote skin cell regeneration and balance oil secretion, making it an excellent skincare product. It is also a top-grade mosquito repellent, and it can be sprinkled on the hair or skin like floral water.

4. Orange jasmine

A shrub type, with flowers mainly white, suitable for potted display. Its fragrance can repel mosquitoes.

5. Mint

There is not much to say about this one; everyone is using it. Mosquito-repellent products such as the cooling balm we use all contain mint oil.

6. Mimosa

An herbaceous plant. The leaves are small, and the plant is small and low-growing, suitable for display. Its special odor can repel mosquitoes.

7. Catnip

Catnip is also a very common plant and is also very easy to grow. A component in catnip called nepetalactone is even stronger than many chemical insecticides, and its mosquito-repellent effect is excellent.

However, if there is a feline overlord at home, it is still better to say goodbye to this plant. Most cats like to scratch and bite this plant, and accidentally eating it will cause temporary behavioral confusion, but there is no need to worry too much; it will not affect the cat's health.

8. Marigold

Marigold is a flower with very strong ornamental value, and growing a few plants at home can produce a very good decorative effect.

Although marigold is not ideal in terms of smell, there is no disputing its mosquito-removing effect. Growing a few marigolds at home can easily keep mosquitoes out.

9. Basil

Basil, also known as “jin bu huan”, is a common ornamental plant that is convenient to buy and low in price. The smell of this plant is very similar to the spices we commonly use, and mosquitoes are very sensitive to this odor. This plant can also be eaten; throw a leaf in when cooking, and you can even save on seasoning!

10. Camphor tree

The camphor oil of the camphor tree can give off a volatile odor, and this volatile odor has the effect of repelling mosquitoes and killing bacteria.