Introduction
Do you know, mosquitoes are attracted to particular blood group and prefer certain blood types for their meals? But, what blood type do mosquitoes like; is still a deep suspense which is supported as well as challenged by many scientists and researchers.
Some research studies have claimed that mosquitoes do prefer certain blood types and people with ‘O’ blood type are the most preferred blood types for mosquitoes. So, if you are among the 40% of the world population with type-O blood, than you are likely to experience more mosquito bites than people with other blood types.
In this article, we will see why mosquitoes like certain blood types, the science behind it, and how can we effectively protect ourselves. We will also answer related queries:
Related Queries:
Why do mosquitos suck blood?
Which blood type do mosquitoes prefer?
Do mosquitoes prefer a specific blood type?
Do mosquitoes use our blood to reproduce?
What blood type do mosquitoes prefer?
What blood type do mosquitoes love?
Table of Contents
Mosquito feeding habits
Not all mosquitoes feed on blood meals. Therefore not all mosquitoes bite and suck blood. It is the only female mosquitoes that needs blood for reproduction. Male mosquitoes never bites and exclusively feed on plant juices and nectars.
While female mosquitoes bite and feed on blood meals which provides an energy reserve for surviving and reproducing during their longer lifespan. Male mosquitoes hardly live for 1 to 2 weeks.
Their main purpose is to mate with female partners and die, while female mosquitoes acquire energy from blood, after biting humans, animals and birds and reproduce. When there is no blood meal, the female mosquitoes too survive by feeding on plant juices, sap and nectar, but this affects their ability to reproduce.
Why do mosquitoes need blood?
Mosquitoes suck blood mainly for reproduction purpose, and that is why only female mosquitoes have urge to bite and suck blood. Blood from humans and animals contain proteins, fats, iron and amino acids that are essential for female mosquitoes for producing eggs.
Mosquito eggs mature in the ovaries from the primary egg chambers which remains underdeveloped, until the female mosquito consumes a bloodmeal. This bloodmeal consumption activates the vitellogenic phase by producing two types of peptide hormones, which stimulates different processes which results into development of mature eggs. The female mosquitoes can lay upto 120 eggs in a clutch after 72h of having a bloodmeal.
After having a blood meal, a female mosquito can effectively develop, fertilize and lay eggs to reproduce. They can produce eggs in multiple batches and as female mosquitoes have a longer lifespan than male partners, the blood meals provide them with sufficient energy to survive and reproduce during their lifespan of several weeks to months, depending on favorable environmental conditions and external factors.
How long do mosquitoes live without blood?
Female mosquitoes needs blood meals to reproduce, and therefore they have a longer lifespan than male mosquitoes. These female mosquitoes can live for few days to a week without blood, and eat natural plant juices and nectars. But after a certain point, they will need blood meals, otherwise their lifespan along with their ability to produce eggs will be impacted.
Therefore, blood plays an important role in mosquitoes reproduction system. It is the most important parameter that female mosquitoes continuously seek and most of the times die while looking for blood meals.
Relation between mosquitoes and blood type
Understanding behavior of mosquitoes and blood type preferences will be helpful in managing vector-borne diseases.
Mosquitoes get the required energy from blood to survive and reproduce eggs. They mostly like the red blood cells (erythrocytes) in plasma, composition of different amino acids, and other micronutrients in the blood. These are required for formation and development of eggs. However, there are certain components in blood that attracts mosquitoes, and therefore mosquitoes like certain blood types.
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What do mosquitoes like in blood?
There are two main blood groups – ABO (with blood types A, B, AB, and O) and Rh (with Rh D-positive or Rh D-negative blood types). Mosquitoes are attracted to specific markers in blood, specially the blood group antigens. These antigens are proteins or sugars attached to the red blood cell membrane and these red blood cell antigens determine your blood group. These blood types has an antigen profile which contains compounds that are attractive to mosquitoes.
Blood group and Mosquito bites: Are mosquitoes attracted to a certain type of blood
Do mosquitoes prefer a certain blood type?
Yes, mosquitoes are attracted to certain type of blood over others. This is related to the presence of certain set of antigens (red blood cell markers). There are four different blood types:
- A: In this type of blood, there is only ‘A’ antigen on red blood cells
- B: In this type of blood, there is only ‘B’ antigen on red blood cells
- AB: In this type of blood, there is both ‘A’ and ‘B’ antigen on red blood cells
- O: In this type of blood, there is no any antigen on red blood cells. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’ antigens are absent.
It has been found that human and animal secretions like the saliva and tears also possess these antigens. And therefore a person with type-A blood will secrete ‘A’ antigen in its saliva and tears. And the person with blood type-O will secrete ‘H’ antigen which is a precursor to ‘A’ and ‘B’ antigen.
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Mosquito bites and blood types: What the Research says
A study conducted in 1974, where blood from the mosquito’s gut were extracted and directly tested through agglutination tests with Antibodies-A and Antibodies-B. The result of the study clearly draws conclusion that mosquitoes preferentially selected type-O blood types.
In an another study published in American Journal of Entomology, it was observed that mosquitoes gave highest preference to blood type-O.
But, the most convincing study done to examine the landing preferences of mosquitoes to different blood types and body fluids like saliva and tears (secretors or non-secretors of antigens). It was found that mosquitoes gave significantly higher preference to blood group-O secretors (presence of H antigen in their saliva or tears). It means the person who secretes ‘H’ antigen is the most prone to mosquito bites.
Mosquito blood type preference: Overview of bite frequency by blood group
The research shows that the attraction of mosquitoes to different blood types (blood type liked by mosquitoes) is mainly governed by blood antigens and is highly specific.
- Blood type-O: the most preferred blood type
- Blood type-B: slightly more attractive than AB
- Blood type-AB: moderately attractive
- Blood type-A: the least preferred blood type
The research and studies also shows that the amount of carbon dioxide released, the body heat, skin temperature, skin odor, skin bacteria, etc. are other factors beyond the blood type that attracts mosquitoes. Therefore, mosquitoes are more likely to bite pregnant woman, active kids and athletes with higher metabolic rate, or while working out and drinking alcohol, as they will be emitting more carbon dioxide.
Explanations for higher mosquito bites in certain blood groups
The mosquitoes are attracted to their hosts through their:
- Carbon dioxide emission
- Blood type secretions and chemical markers
- Body odor
- Skin odor
- Sweat
- Body heat
- Metabolism rate
1. Blood group and mosquito bites: In type-O blood the mosquitoes feel easier to notice and can detect their hosts more readily. Their body odor, blood type secretions are different and somehow they prefer type-O above others and land on individuals with type-O blood. Therefore, due to their preferential selection of blood type, the mosquito bites will be more prominently seen in people with type-O blood.
2. Evolutionary pattern due to optimal nutrition: The female mosquitoes have to produce eggs and they need blood meals. And in certain mosquito species it is found that the blood type-O gives optimal nutrition required to produce eggs. This can be explained as an evolutionary pattern where mosquitoes themselves have found and switched to blood type-O as the best food source.
What blood types do mosquitoes like?
Mosquitoes have a preferential selection of blood types over others. This does not mean that it won’t bite people with other blood types. Due to presence of certain chemical compounds and specific body odor and sweat (because of different antigen present in secretors), the individuals are more readily noticeable and identifiable. The mosquitoes can easily detect their smell and land on for blood meals.
Blood type that mosquitoes like or hate
Mosquitoes like certain blood types or they prefer certain blood types, but they don’t hate any blood type. They just have their own preferences that makes it easier for them to locate and bite on people for the sake of blood.
As per their preferences, mosquitoes are least attracted to type-A blood and most attracted to type-O blood. While type-B and type-AB are just between these two and are moderately attractive.
What blood type do mosquitoes like the most?
It is believed that type-O blood is the most preferred type of blood because mosquitoes can easily smell and even identify their hosts through their body odor, skin odor, body heat and carbon dioxide emissions.
Why do mosquitoes like type-O blood?
What blood type are mosquitoes attracted to?
The mosquitoes are attracted to people with type-O blood, because it contains specific markers on the red blood cells. These markers are actually antigens which produce certain compounds and specific smell that is attractive to mosquitoes.
Mosquito preferred blood type: The type-O is the mosquitoes favorite blood type that attracts mosquitoes readily and is the only blood type that mosquitoes like or love. Type-O blood has a different chemical composition and a smell which when combined with other cues like carbon dioxide, body heat, body odor, components of sweat like lactic acid, etc. makes the individual more attractive to mosquitoes.
Also, the presence of similar antigens in the body fluids like saliva, sweat and tears; makes the person more readily noticeable by the mosquitoes. And therefore blood type-O is the favourite blood type for mosquitoes.
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Conclusion: Why do mosquitoes prefer certain blood types?
Mosquitoes have a clear preference to blood types and type-O is the blood type that mosquitoes like the most. As female mosquitoes are in need to drink blood from invertebrates like humans, animals and birds for reproduction. But this preference is simply because the smell of blood type-O antigens is more easier for them to detect and identify.
Apart from this blood type preference, based on body odor, skin temperature and body heat, skin bacteria, skin odor, sweat, metabolic rate, carbon dioxide emissions, altogether makes a person less or more attractive to mosquitoes as compared to others.
The knowledge of this preference to specific blood type can help you in protecting yourself by using repellents, light colored clothing, changing diet, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Do mosquitoes bite certain blood types?
Yes, mosquitoes have preference to specific blood types specially the type-O blood. As per many research studies, mosquitoes preferentially land on individuals with Type-O blood type. This is govern by many factors like presence of antigens in body fluids like sweat, saliva and tears.
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Why do mosquitoes suck your blood?
Mosquitoes need blood meals to energize their reproductive systems. It should be noted that only female mosquitoes suck your blood while male mosquitoes are vegetarian.
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What blood type attracts the most mosquitoes?
Blood type-O attracts the most mosquitoes as these are much easier to detect and easily noticeable. Maybe it has a scent which is stronger than other blood types or some more special scent that mosquitoes can only identify and differentiate.
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Why do only female mosquitoes bite?
The female mosquitoes feed on blood meals and they need it to develop and fertilize eggs. They have a lifespan longer than their male counterparts and to survive they need blood meals. The blood contains important nutrients that helps the formation and development of eggs.
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What is a mosquito favourite blood type?
Type-O is the favourite blood type of mosquitoes. Many research studies have found it through different methods that mosquitoes has a preference to blood type-O over other blood types.
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Do male mosquitoes suck blood?
No, male mosquitoes do no suck blood. They are vegetarians and do mainly feed on sap, plant juices and flower nectars. they have a sort life span and focus mainly on mating and reproducing. They do not lay eggs and therefore they do not need blood meals as a source of energy and nutrients.
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What kind of blood do mosquitoes like?
Mosquitoes are attracted to certain smell and identifiers in blood cells called as markers. These markers are antigens which makes the different blood types distinguishable. These antigens are also present in sweat, saliva of individuals and therefore mosquitoes prefer to bite on these individuals.
When examined through experimental studies and demonstrations it reveals that it was the blood type-O that is most preferred by mosquitoes therefore the individuals with blood types that has H antigen present in their sweat are liked by mosquitoes.
