many sources claim that CO2 emitted from the human skin attracts mosquito to bite human, other sources claim that uric acid, lactic acid and cholesterol attract the mosquito. I think it should be something else, because uric acid, lactic acid and cholesterol are not volatile compounds, so they can not be perceived from long distances, is it possible that pheromone like compounds emitted from human skin in micro or nano scale attract the mosquito??
CO2 is emitted not only by skin but principally by lungs during air exhalation, but it seems to be an activator rather than an attractant for the biting activity of mosquito females. As you surely know, there are in addition two factors, even if not chemicals, that can be important in mosquito attracting: the body (and particularly skin) temperature, and the water vapour emitted by the temporary human host. Also some visual stimuli, even if less important for the attraction, can play a role from a distance. As regards chemicals, also some substances as l-lysin and estrogens, in addition to those cited by you, can attract mosquitoes, according to literature.
Best regards,
Rinaldo Nicoli
The skin releases more than 400 volatiles, breathing mainly CO2 but also others, heat, water vapor and visual cues (contrast) are all cues that can potentially be evaluated mosquitoes when looking for a host. Depending on the mosquito species and their association to particular vertebrate hosts, they can use these cues differently. Concerning chemicals, it is not a particular chemical compound that determines attractiveness, but the composition of the highly complex odorant blend. This is why it is so difficult to answer fondamental questions such as, for example, why some people are more bitten than others.
You can look at the msds for the active ingredients of different commercial lures and attractants for mosquitoes. I think CO2 is the most commonly used and preferred.
yes , i am agreed with the above answers as CO2 is the main component which attract mosquitoes. It can be seen in the daily practice as mosquitoes mainly bit us on the foot because as CO2 is the heavy gas having high molecular weight. Therefore, it remains at the bottom and attract mosquitoes.
other compounds which are volatile in nature and even heat released from the body also attract mosquitoes.
I am not sure of what constitutes long distance attractions for mosquitoes but we also notice that mosquitoes respond to motion/activity since still motion during a nap/sleep makes that person more attractive than active/awake person to mosquitoes.
Attraction of mosquitoes primarily depends upon the respiration rate per minute and body temperature and directly proportionate to the amount of CO2 exhaled i.e. higher the quantity of CO2 exhaled results in increased body temperature.
Average respiration rate in case of human is 18 inhalations & exhalations per minute. If this increases, results in emitting more quantity of co2 that leads to higher body temperature ultimately readily attracting mosquitoes to such human.
I am not sure whether Octanol plays any role in mosquito attraction.
Chemicals having flower based smell such as jasmine attracts the mosquito to bite.
The female mosquitoes bite for nutrition and development of their eggs. Lactic acid in sweat is a good mosquito attractant. The smell produced by bacteria living on our skin, which is exuded in sweat attracts mosquitoes to bite. Furthermore, mosquitoes are attracted to potassium, salt, perfumes and alcohol.
Mosquitoes usually detect smells with their olfactory receptor neurons of their antennae. Carbon dioxide concentration produced during exhalation, which the mosquitoes can detect, offer an initial temptation for the mosquitoes to bite. Other chemicals that attract mosquitoes to bite are uric acid, lactic acid and ammonia, released by bacteria that live in human skin.
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