Can Mosquitoes Get Drunk Off Your Blood?
WouterDespite the apocryphal story of a drunken Patsy Stone checking in to the Betty Ford Clinic after being bitten by a mosquito, it is unlikely that the insects can get drunk off of your blood. However, you may be surprised to know that alcohol can affect other creatures. In fact, it is possible that beer-drinkers are walking mosquito magnets.
Scientists have long wondered how mosquitoes detect blood, but haven’t been able to find a definitive answer. In the past, researchers have used inebriometers to measure the mosquito’s sensitivity to alcohol.
However, there haven’t been many studies that have analyzed the relationship between drinking alcohol and being bitten by mosquitoes. These studies have been done on volunteers in controlled laboratory settings. Some have taken data from previous scientific studies. Others have based their findings on new information.
One study found that men who drink alcohol tend to be bitten more often. Another discovered that pregnant women are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes than non-pregnant women. While no one knows why, the increased carbon dioxide released by pregnant women may make them an ideal target.
Some researchers have also found that flies are more attracted to people who are under the influence. According to Michael Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland, the insect’s preference for a human depends on the type of attractants released by the person.
One scientist, Coby Schal, from North Carolina State University, has been studying mosquitoes’ sensitivity to alcohol. In a recent experiment, he found that a mosquito can withstand vapor concentrations of up to 60% alcohol.
