How Does a Mosquito Draw Blood?

Attraction

In order for a mosquito to find someone to bite, it must use its sensors. Mosquitoes have been known to be attracted to three things: heat, carbon dioxide and clothing that doesn't blend in with its surroundings. The first thing a mosquito picks up on is the carbon dioxide that comes out of the mouths of humans and animals. Next, the mosquito searches for a heat source. Finally, if a mosquito notices some colors that don't seem to belong to the surrounding area, it zooms in for the feast.

The Bite

Only female mosquitoes can bite and draw blood. Once the female finds a host, she lands and stabs the host with her proboscis. The proboscis is the needle-like part of the mosquito. Many victims never feel the initial bite. The whole intent of the bite is to draw blood.

Saliva

The mosquito then begins to put its saliva in to the victim before it even draws any blood. This is to make sure your blood doesn't begin to clot. If your blood began to clot like it normally would, the blood would be too thick for the mosquito to get up through its proboscis. Once the saliva is injected, it causes a reaction in your body. This is the first time a victim might begin to feel the mosquito on his or her body. The area of the bite will become red and a little swollen. The victim will also begin to itch, which may continue for even a few days. This is all from the saliva.

Drawing Blood

Finally, the mosquito is ready to draw the blood up through her proboscis. The female draws blood until she has completely filled her stomach. Once her stomach is full, she withdraws her proboscis and flies away. Sometimes during this process, blood from a previous feeding is regurgitated into the body of the new victim. This is how the spreading of diseases occurs.

Lasting Effects

There are no lasting effects of the injection site itself. The lasting effects come from whatever disease the mosquito had that it passed on to you. Most people do not have any lasting effects, but they can contract diseases like malaria, yellow fever and encephalitis. If you have any strange illness that follows a mosquito bite, see your doctor right away for treatment.

Resources

• Mosquito