What If Mosquitoes Were the Size of Humans?
WouterSpectral preferences of mosquitoes have not been studied much. However, it has been noted that mosquitoes are attracted to objects in the orange and red portion of the human visual spectrum.
Objects in this region are viewed as more attractive than lighter objects. However, this is only one factor that determines mosquitoes’ attraction to human skin. Other factors include carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and body temperature.
The amount of universal attractants released by humans determines how likely a mosquito is to bite. For example, pregnant women release more carbon dioxide. Adding more carbon dioxide could make humans more visible to mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes also use specific body odor compounds. These attractants include perspiration, sweat, and bacteria that live on the skin.
Mosquitoes also release a protein that inhibits blood clotting. This is the source of the protein needed for the eggs. They also feed on blood and other plant sugars.
The human visual spectrum is composed of long wavelength bands. These wavelengths dominate the reflectance of human skin. However, human skin has a lower peak in the green wavelength.
The visual system of mosquitoes is promising as a target to inhibit mosquito attraction to humans. This is because mosquitoes detect long-wavelength bands in the human visual spectrum. However, the mosquito’s attraction to humans is only inhibited if mutations are made to target the specific long-wavelength opsins.
It is possible that mosquitoes rely on these universal attractants to detect humans. This can be inhibited by filtering the color spectrum of the skin.
