Mosquitoes: Why They Suck

You are outside enjoying the early evening, grilling up a bacon-wrapped filet or tofu wiener and drinking an amber ale when...OUCH... your paradise is shattered by the world's most annoying critter, the mosquito.

These little buggers, which have been ruining our summers for 170 million years now, aren't actually interested in our blood directly (they aren't vampires). What they are interested in is an amino acid, isoleucine, which our blood carries that will allow them to lay eggs (it is only the female that "bites"), up to 100 at a time.

As they search for blood, they are also injecting us with a little bit of their saliva (gross!) which keeps the blood from clotting, and is also the reason that we get that itchy little bump on our skin.

Apparently, humans aren't even the best source of this isoleucine. Blood from both buffalo and rats actually contains a lot more of the amino acid... however, as there is often, thankfully, a shortage of both of these animals in our environment... we are the next best thing!

Thanks for reading! See you in October!!!!