Mosquito behavior is crucial to developing effective repellent technologies. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide (CO2) and certain odors emitted by humans such as lactic acid and ammonia, which are present in sweat. They are also guided by heat and humidity around their targets. This attraction is not random but is a complex behavioral pattern that has evolved over thousands of years. Knowing these key attractants helps scientists design repellent devices that either confuse a mosquito’s sensory cues or repel them effectively.
Besides visual and thermal cues, mosquitoes use olfactory cues to locate their blood hosts. A thorough understanding of these behaviors is foundational for the next-generation mosquito repellents that aim not just to repel these pests but do so in a highly targeted and efficient manner.
