Can Mosquitoes Get Drunk?
WouterAmong other things, alcohol can attract mosquitoes. They’re attracted to the buzz of the vapor and the odor of the drink. However, no major studies have been conducted about the connection between alcohol and mosquitoes.
One entomologist, Coby Schal, from North Carolina State University, has done some research on how mosquitoes react to alcohol. He says that most insects are not attracted to ethanol as a food source. But some, like the vinegar fly, have a taste for it.
Other researchers have suggested that alcohol can increase the blood volume of mosquitoes. This makes their bites more dangerous. They also believe that alcohol can make blood tastier for mosquitoes.
Some studies have shown that humans with warm skin are more attractive to mosquitoes than those with cold skin. The warmer skin makes it easier for a mosquito to penetrate the blood stream and ingest the blood. A study showed that people with a warm body temperature are also more likely to have malaria-carrying mosquitoes bite them.
Similarly, a Norwegian study shows that leeches can get drunk. This was only a laboratory study, and the results are not clear.
Some insects, such as the vinegar fly, have a powerful taste for rotting fruit, which is a prime source of alcohol. They may also be able to survive a meal with 0.2 percent alcohol, which is equivalent to drinking a bottle of beer diluted 25 times.
Another scientist, Michael Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland, has conducted several studies on how alcohol affects mosquitoes. He warns against reckless flying.
