Male mosquitoes may hang around humans to pick up females
Male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes don’t bite, but they are attracted to humans
Joao Burini / Alamy Stock Photo
The males of a disease-carrying mosquito species are attracted to people, even though only the females drink our blood. This suggests the males might hover around humans to pick up mates.
Researchers have previously observed male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes mating with females near people, but it is unclear whether the males, which feed on nectar, are attracted to people or simply drawn towards the blood-drinking females. Female mosquitoes find people using cues such as body odour, carbon dioxide and …