Why Mosquitoes Target Humans & How We’re Making It Worse
Mosquitoes are among the deadliest animals on Earth, responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually by spreading diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika. Human activity, through climate change and habitat destruction, is intensifying this threat.
Key Takeaways
- Only female mosquitoes bite, needing blood protein for egg development.
- They are drawn to CO2, body heat, sweat, and dark clothing.
- Climate change speeds up their life cycle and expands their range.
- Loss of natural predators and urbanisation create ideal conditions for outbreaks.
The Biology Behind the Bite
Female mosquitoes require a blood meal to produce eggs, using a needle-like proboscis to feed. Their saliva contains anticoagulants that cause the familiar itchy bump and can transmit dangerous pathogens.
What Attracts Mosquitoes to You?
Mosquitoes are expert hunters. They can detect carbon dioxide from your breath from nearly 30 metres away. Body heat, sweat components like lactic acid, and even dark-coloured clothing make you a more visible and attractive target.
How Human Activity Fuels the Problem
Climate Change: Rising temperatures accelerate mosquito development, increase biting frequency, and allow pathogens to mature faster inside them. This extends their breeding season and geographical reach.
Biodiversity Loss: Declining populations of birds, bats, and dragonflies—natural mosquito predators—remove a crucial check on mosquito numbers, allowing them to thrive unchecked.
Urbanisation: Cities create perfect mosquito nurseries in the form of stagnant water in containers, discarded tyres, and blocked drains. High human density in these areas leads to more contact and larger, faster disease outbreaks.
Understanding these drivers is critical for developing effective public health strategies, better repellents, and traps to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
