Mosquitoes have two different feeding modes, according to new research

Mosquitoes have a taste for human blood, because our blood is "salty and sweet," according to newly published research.

The study, published in the scientific journal Neuron, notes female mosquitoes have two different feeding modes, including a nectar one that detects sugars and one that pierces the skin and feeds on blood, similar to a syringe.

Study co-author Leslie Vosshall and the other researchers were able to trick the mosquitoes to get into "blood-feeding mode" offering them four compounds: glucose, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate (which is found in blood and baking soda) and adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. The ATP has no taste, but Vosshall noted it may be "exciting" for mosquitoes.

“ATP is this special mystery stuff that tastes like nothing to humans. But it’s got to be incredibly exciting and rewarding for the mosquito," Vosshall said in a statement.

The researchers were able to slightly alter the insects and give them a fluorescent glow to see when a particular nerve cell was activated and see how the cells reacted and lit up to the different meals.

“There is nothing like this in the human experience,” Vosshall added.

The researchers hope that by understanding why mosquitoes feed on human blood, there could be a drug created that could stop the ravenous insects from feeding on us, Vosshall added, noting something similar to a dog's flea and tick medication could be created.

“If mosquitoes weren’t able to detect the taste of blood, in theory they couldn’t transmit disease,” said Veronica Jové, an HHMI Gilliam Fellow at the Rockefeller University, and lead author of the study, in the statement.

The blood-sucking insects, which spread diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever, are responsible for at least 500,000 deaths a year. Only female mosquitoes feed on blood, using it as sustenance for their eggs to develop.

“This is definitely a technical tour de force,” neuroscientist Chris Potter of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in the statement, adding that it is one “we could use against the mosquito.”

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/science/why-mosquitoes-feast-on-humans-blood

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44, dominque

Ok

#endMosquitoes

Almost, if not in All insects species that sucks blood, sucking is being done by the female gender, the males mostly suck nectar from plants.


Females and their Wahala

#EndAnophelesAndCulexMosquito

Only female mosquitoes feed on blood.... Lemme not say what I want to say

No yarns

Very good, meanwhile down here our own na to cast and bind. Chai.

Only female anophele mosquitoes causes fever.

They will first check your trousers if you're wearing one. Scan the pocket before deciding which ringtone they will give you

Females eh,even human females suck sperm

Hmm

Dayoebe:
Only female anophele mosquitoes causes fever.

They will first check your trousers if you're wearing one. Scan the pocket before deciding which ringtone they will give you

Dem no need check ur trouser, dey just need to check ur face.

Solemn humming if money dey your hand
Aggressive humming if u be broke person (na manage dem just wan manage d blood as per say choice no dey)

�

Very educative

so ATP dey high mosquito..... marlian mosquito. #mosquito parafito

Hmmm wetin magu no go hear for jail

that is how Eve sucked Adam into problem, David saw but was later sucked into problem, till now we never still get peace because of woman.

A very fascinating research with interesting result.
God bless them
These are the kind of research that I would love to award Nobel prize for, not the type that hypothetically explains what happens in Black Hole (which might be replaced in the nearest future)

I’ve thought about this for some days now, all creatures on earth are beneficial in one way or the other, but not mosquitoes. Does anyone know what they do other than transmit the malaria parasite?

The real vampires.

Pelecius:
A very fascinating research with interesting result.
God bless them
These are the kind of research that I would love to award Nobel prize for, not the type that hypothetically explains what happens in Black Hole (which might be replaced in the nearest future)

guy, that shii deserved it, if you dont understand the theorem try make your own research and watch channels as discovery channel et al to further your understanding. Peace out.

blessedchild234:
guy, that shii deserved it, if you dont understand the theorem try make your own research and watch channels as discovery channel et al to further your understanding. Peace out.

You obviously missed my point
1. The mosquito research was aimed at making life better. Not just the transmission of plasmodium that makes me angry, the fact that their bite causes itching and the annoying sound made by their wings when they come to bite is another thing. Contrast with a 1980s mathematical (not experimental) explanation for a black hole that has nothing to do with you and me
2. Due to the non experimental nature of the theories surrounding black hole, hypothesis keep coming and thus is prone to change, unlike this operational research that fulfils the testability, repeatability and observability criteria of (operational) science. If later, an hypothesis some how fit a certain observation, it has high tendency of being adopted. Yet, the one that would be dropped has won a Nobel prize.

Those are few of the reasons I made my previous comment. So it's not about watching "How the Universe Works" in Discovery Channel

Female mosquitoes. It can only be them.

Pelecius:


You obviously missed my point
1. The mosquito research was aimed at making life better. Not just the transmission of plasmodium that makes me angry, the fact that their bite causes itching and the annoying sound made by their wings when they come to bite is another thing. Contrast with a 1980s mathematical (not experimental) explanation for a black hole that has nothing to do with you and me
2. Due to the non experimental nature of the theories surrounding black hole, hypothesis keep coming and thus is prone to change, unlike this operational research that fulfils the testability, repeatability and observability criteria of (operational) science. If later, an hypothesis some how fit a certain observation, it has high tendency of being adopted. Yet, the one that would be dropped has won a Nobel prize.

Those are few of the reasons I made my previous comment. So it's not about watching "How the Universe Works" in Discovery Channel

glad you raised some points concerning the biology of the mosquito, its quite informative to also observe that the study of space and galaxies has as well increased human understanding of her universe in a wider scope. However, in a futuristic perspective planets will surely be investigated with their mathematical equates which could lead to understanding of the black hole and her characteristics, who knows maybe another ground breaking discovery about our earth could surface and change something.
The universe is limitless so are its elements, therefore we are at the edge of massive paradigm shift in these decade in respect of what we are yet to discover or settle out for, time will tell these.

blessedchild234:
glad you raised some points concerning the biology of the mosquito, its quite informative to also observe that the study of space and galaxies has as well increased human understanding of her universe in a wider scope. However, in a futuristic perspective planets will surely be investigated with their mathematical equates which could lead to understanding of the black hole and her characteristics, who knows maybe another ground breaking discovery about our earth could surface and change something.
The universe is limitless so are its elements, therefore we are at the edge of massive paradigm shift in these decade in respect of what we are yet to discover or settle out for, time will tell these.

Of course, it is important that we study and try to understand everything around us as it will be helpful later, if not now. For example, Keppler's equation that describes the planetary orbits (demolishing Ptolemy's Geocentricity) has helped in mapping out how space rovers should be launched so as to be caught in heavenly bodies' gravity in order to orbit round them and and make observation about them. And of course, I didn't criticize Penrose' work since his theory fits the current observation made by the other two young scientists who shared the prize with him.

Pelecius:

Of course, it is important that we study and try to understand everything around us as it will be helpful later, if not now. For example, Keppler's equation that describes the planetary orbits (demolishing Ptolemy's Geocentricity) has helped in mapping out how space rovers should be launched so as to be caught in heavenly bodies' gravity in order to orbit round them and and make observation about them. And of course, I didn't criticize Penrose' work since his theory fits the current observation made by the other two young scientists who shared the prize with him.

Yea the trio did tremendously great, they complimented each other explicably well at areas that gave the experiment a remarkable intelligence and correlation to our modern day orbit, even the prize givers couldn't believe that such a nearly extinct universe wonder might occur from that section of space science with solid proofs from the scientist, as it was largely speculated that space blackholes might not have existed and these were the primary discoveries of Einstein.
well I personally view these as the foundation for the exploration of galaxies after earth.

Interesting