Randy Chandler
Mosquitoes are attracted to certain people more than others. Several factors influence this, including what you wear, how you smell, what you eat, your chemical composition, and when you exercise. Interestingly, mosquitoes are drawn to the scent of Limburger cheese and its derivatives, which can even divert them from their usual target of human blood. This is because Limburger cheese and human feet share a similar bacterial composition, which mosquitoes find appealing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mosquito species | Anopheles gambiae s.s. |
| Mosquito type | Malaria mosquito |
| Mosquito attractant | Limburger cheese |
| Mosquito repellent | Disinfectant soap |
| Mosquito trap | Odour-baited traps |
| Mosquito target | Human feet |
| Limburger cheese property | Smell resembling human feet |
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What You'll Learn
Limburger cheese is an attractant for mosquitoes
The reason Limburger cheese is an attractant for mosquitoes is down to the presence of the bacteria Brevibacterium linens, which is a type of "smear bacteria" that produces the rind on soft, smelly cheeses. This is the same bacteria that is found on the human foot, specifically Brevibacterium epidermidis, which is responsible for the smell of stinky feet.
The bacteria on the feet dine on proteins in a moist, salty environment, producing a smell that attracts mosquitoes. The same can be said for Limburger cheese, where the bacteria feed on proteins and produce volatile fatty acids, resulting in a smell that mosquitoes find appealing.
The discovery of Limburger cheese as an attractant for mosquitoes is an important development in the fight against malaria. It is believed that this knowledge will help accelerate the development of odour-baited traps for malaria mosquito surveillance and control, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Mosquitoes are drawn to human feet
Secondly, mosquitoes have learned that we are less likely to notice and swat them when they bite our feet and ankles. Additionally, these body parts tend to be left uncovered, making them easy and predictable targets during the summer months when mosquitoes are most active.
Another factor attracting mosquitoes to human feet is the presence of specific sensors near their mouths that detect carbon dioxide. While carbon dioxide is not directly associated with feet, the build-up of bacteria on the feet can produce a strong odour that includes carbon dioxide, making feet more attractive to mosquitoes.
Furthermore, mosquitoes are drawn to moist and relatively insensitive flesh, which is often found on the feet. This preference may be due to the presence of certain bacteria that thrive in these environments, producing volatile fatty acids that mosquitoes find appealing.
Understanding the reasons why mosquitoes are drawn to human feet can help develop effective strategies to prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
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Mosquitoes are attracted by human sweat
It is true that mosquitoes are attracted to human sweat. They are drawn to the skin-derived chemical signals and smells that humans emit, including sweat or skin odour. Additionally, mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and the lactic acid produced during exercise.
However, it is important to note that mosquitoes are also guided by visual, physical, and chemical properties when searching for blood. They are attracted to dark and bold colours, such as red, black, and navy blue, and will bite through tight clothing, so loose-fitted clothing in light, neutral colours is recommended.
While sweat may play a role in attracting mosquitoes, recent studies have identified a surprising new attractant for the malaria-carrying mosquito species Anopheles gambiae s.s. This species is responsible for transmitting malaria parasites to humans through its bites, and it has been discovered that they are drawn to the scent of Limburger cheese and its derivatives.
The connection between Limburger cheese and human attraction to mosquitoes lies in the bacteria present on human feet and the cheese itself. Brevibacterium epidermidis is a type of bacteria commonly found on human feet, particularly between the toes, contributing to foot odour. On the other hand, Brevibacterium linens, a "smear bacteria," is responsible for producing the rind on soft, pungent cheeses like Limburger. These two types of bacteria share similar chemical compositions, specifically in terms of the volatile fatty acids they produce. The fatty acids emitted by these bacteria are what mosquitoes are attracted to, explaining why they are drawn to both Limburger cheese and human feet.
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Mosquitoes are guided to humans by kairomones
Limburger cheese, a pungent Dutch cheese, has been found to be an effective attractant for mosquitoes. The cheese's odor resembles human foot odor, specifically the smell of human toe scrapings, which are colonized by the bacterium Brevibacterium epidermidis. The cheese also contains volatile fatty acids produced by the bacterium Brevibacterium linens, which is found on the rinds of soft, smelly cheeses. These chemicals are very similar to those found in human toe scrapings.
The discovery of Limburger cheese as a mosquito attractant has important implications for mosquito control, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the Anopheles gambiae mosquito is a significant vector for malaria. By identifying substances that mosquitoes find irresistible, researchers can develop more effective odour-baited traps to monitor and control mosquito populations.
In addition to Limburger cheese, mosquitoes are also attracted to dark and bold colors, such as red, black, and navy blue. They are also drawn to carbon dioxide and lactic acid, which are produced when humans exhale and exercise, respectively. Understanding these attractants can help develop strategies to prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
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Mosquitoes are attracted to dark and bold colours
It is true that mosquitoes are attracted to dark and bold colours, but the reason why is not solely dependent on what we wear. Mosquitoes are drawn to darker shades due to their ability to block the insect's view of the horizon, allowing it to visualise a silhouette, which it recognises as a potential host. This makes it easier for mosquitoes to track objects in the distance. However, it is important to note that colour alone is not a significant attractor for mosquitoes. Research from the University of Washington found that colour, in the absence of an odour stimulus like carbon dioxide, had no impact on the mosquito's behaviour.
Mosquitoes are attracted to a host through a combination of factors, including chemical and visual cues. They use their palps, or odour-sensing organs, to detect carbon dioxide, which humans produce when exhaling. They can track a host from about 150 feet away through this method. Additionally, mosquitoes can detect compounds in human sweat, such as lactic acid, uric acid, and ammonia. They are also attracted to body heat, which is why we are more prone to bites in the summer when our body temperatures are higher, and we tend to sweat more.
Dark colours, such as black, navy, blue, red, orange, and cyan, combined with movement and breath, make it easier for mosquitoes to find us. Lighter colours, on the other hand, may be perceived as a threat, which is why mosquitoes tend to avoid biting in direct sunlight, as they are susceptible to dehydration. Therefore, wearing lighter colours like white, green, or light blue can reduce the possibility of mosquito bites.
While colour plays a role in mosquito attraction, it is important to consider other factors as well. Mosquitoes are complex creatures that use a multitude of methods to find their hosts, and while we can try to avoid mosquito bites by wearing lighter colours, it is not a foolproof method.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mosquitoes are attracted to Limburger cheese.
Limburger cheese is known to have a strong smell, which mosquitoes are drawn to. The smell of Limburger cheese is caused by volatile fatty acids produced by a bacterium called Brevibacterium linens.
Scientists have conducted experiments to test the hypothesis that mosquitoes are attracted to Limburger cheese. In one experiment, mosquitoes were drawn to a trap baited with air passed over Limburger cheese.
No, mosquitoes are also attracted to human feet, dark and bold colors, floral scents, and carbon dioxide.
Yes, mosquitoes that are attracted to Limburger cheese may also be carrying malaria parasites, which they can transmit to humans when feeding on blood.
