Scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology and MIT investigated how mosquitoes locate humans.
Using cameras and analyzing millions of data points, the researchers tracked the insects’ movements in detail.
The study, published in Science Advances and described by SciTechDaily, focused on the species Aedes aegypti, which can spread diseases such as Zika and yellow fever.
The researchers discovered that mosquitoes do not follow one another. Instead, they respond to the same environmental signals, which often leads them to gather in the same places.
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Colors matter
In the experiments, the scientists tested different colors and levels of carbon dioxide — the gas humans exhale.
A dark object attracted more mosquitoes than a light-colored one. When carbon dioxide was added at the same time, the attraction became even stronger.
The mosquitoes gathered mainly around the heads and shoulders of the participants. Researchers recorded their flight patterns using infrared cameras.
According to the scientists, the findings could help develop more effective mosquito traps. This could include changing how the traps emit light or carbon dioxide.
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Sources: SciTechDaily and Science Advances.
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