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Male mosquitoes may hang around humans to pick up females

Male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are attracted to people despite not drinking blood, suggesting they hang around us to find thirsty females

By Carissa Wong

28 March 2023

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 …

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