Mosquitoes bite all kinds of living creatures, but new research shows they’re particularly drawn to colors mimicking human skin tones and our circulatory system. How might this discovery improve protection?
Every summer, many of us dread the question: "Will mosquitoes devour me again?" In 2021, scientists explored ways to make humans “invisible” to these pests. Yet, some people enjoy a degree of natural resistance. We already know mosquitoes are lured by body odors, sweat, and even blood types.
A study published in Nature Communications on February 4, 2022, by researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle adds a fascinating layer. Their findings indicate that human skin color influences mosquito behavior.
The team placed mosquitoes in boxes with colored dots and shapes: blue, cyan, black, orange, red, green, and purple. Without stimulation, the insects showed little interest. But when CO2 was introduced—mimicking human breath—the mosquitoes reacted strongly. CO2 is a key signal mosquitoes use to detect hosts.
In the presence of CO2, mosquitoes ignored blue, green, and purple. But cyan, orange, black, and especially red drew them in. While cyan isn’t skin-like, orange, black, and red resemble human skin tones and flushed skin tied to our circulatory system. Female mosquitoes need blood for reproduction, after all.
This breakthrough confirms mosquitoes can detect skin colors—something previously unknown. The researchers suggest it could inspire new repellents and traps for better mosquito control.
Notably, the study used Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, a major vector for diseases like dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. As experts emphasize, this species poses one of the biggest threats for human-transmitted illnesses.
