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Mosquitoes with Night Vision: How Aedes aegypti Hunts You Like a Heat-Seeking Missile
Discover the fascinating science behind how these tiny bloodsuckers detect humans with infrared technology
If you’ve ever wondered how mosquitoes always seem to find you, even in the dark, you’re not alone. The answer is both terrifying and awe-inspiring. Recent research has uncovered that the Aedes aegypti mosquito, notorious for spreading deadly diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, can detect humans using infrared radiation. Yes, these tiny pests are like mini heat-seeking missiles, zeroing in on our bodies with a precision that would make a military drone envious.
Aedes aegypti: The Stealth Predator
Mosquitoes are often dismissed as mere nuisances, but the Aedes aegypti is no ordinary mosquito. This species is responsible for transmitting some of the world’s most dangerous viruses, making it a significant public health threat. But what makes Aedes aegypti so effective at finding and biting humans?
It all starts with the basics: carbon dioxide (CO2). When you exhale, you release a plume of CO2 that can travel over ten meters. Aedes aegypti has evolved to detect these tiny fluctuations…
