There have been many studies on the “preferences” of these tiny, annoying insects.
Michael Riehle, a professor of entomology at the University of Arizona (USA), states: “The buzzing sound around your ears is mostly just a side effect of the mosquito flapping its wings. You will notice this most when they fly around your ears.”
This is primarily because mosquitoes locate humans based on their heat emissions. When the lights in the room are on, the heat from the bulbs interferes with their ability to sense temperature, causing mosquitoes to fly around aimlessly, making relatively little noise that we cannot hear.
Once the lights are turned off, the largest heat source in the room comes from the human body, allowing mosquitoes to pinpoint their target more accurately, resulting in a louder buzzing sound.
This buzzing may be caused by female mosquitoes. Male and female mosquitoes lead very different lives. Males typically wander and sip nectar. However, females need to find a blood meal after mating to gain enough energy to produce eggs. Female mosquitoes are equipped with unique tools to latch onto their “victims.“
Female mosquitoes are attracted to men with fewer bacteria on their skin compared to those with more bacteria
Moreover, mosquitoes prefer environments with strong odors. Humans may not perceive the smell of earwax. But after the lights are turned off, mosquitoes have nothing to rely on, so they activate their sense of taste and seek out places with pungent smells, one of which is right next to the ear. This is why many people feel that mosquitoes always prefer to hover around their heads.
In reality, mosquitoes buzz around our heads because that is where we emit the most carbon dioxide. Female mosquitoes use taste sensors on their feet to determine whether a person or any blood-bearing animal has enough resources for their next meal.
While some studies suggest that individuals with type O blood are most attractive to mosquitoes, Professor Riehle has not found convincing research linking blood type and mosquito attraction. Instead, he believes that other factors, such as genetics and even diet, play a larger role in how attractive a person is to mosquitoes.
Riehle explains that the unique scent from our skin attracts certain mosquito species more than others. Another study found that female mosquitoes are more attracted to men with fewer bacteria on their skin compared to those with a higher bacterial count. These blood-sucking creatures are also attracted to people who prefer to wear dark clothing, such as black.
As the female flies toward a target, she flaps her wings about 500 times per second at a frequency of 450 to 500 hertz. Coincidentally, this frequency corresponds to the musical note A, which is the frequency an orchestra tunes to before a concert.
While this may sound like a high-pitched drone to us, it is music to male mosquitoes. In fact, male mosquitoes have a higher wingbeat frequency than females, listening for the droning sound of females as they search for mates.
Riehle demonstrates this effect to his students by holding a tuning fork toward a female mosquito cage. In every trial, the females do not respond. However, there is a similar display in the cage of male mosquitoes who frantically flutter their wings as they desperately search for the female producing those sweet, soothing vibrations.
While male mosquitoes produce this sound wildly, humans feel less excitement when hearing it.
Riehle notes that most mosquitoes are not attracted to our heads. Instead, these bloodsuckers may tend to seek out our feet, where bacteria emit appealing scents for mosquitoes. However, most people probably do not notice a mosquito buzzing around their ankles.
A 1996 study published in the journal Trends in Parasitology reported that female mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus, responsible for transmitting malaria parasites, were attracted to bacteria on human feet. The type of bacteria Brevibacterium linens produces a distinctive smell associated with Limburger cheese. Another study in 2013 published in the journal PLOS One confirmed that, in fact, mosquitoes are attracted to Limburger cheese.
