Mosquitoes do not randomly perch on

Mosquitoes do not randomly perch on just anybody, but they choose their victims selectively searching for the most aromatically appealing humans, according to a study released recently.

The University of Florida entomologist, Jerry Butler, said that mosquitoes used odor to find the most tasty people.

In a study of what attracted mosquitoes to people, Butler said he worked off a theory that they go for humans who provide the richest source of cholesterol and B vitamins, which the pesky insects need to live on but do not produce themselves.

Butler found one sure way to stop attracting them - stop breathing. He said that mosquitoes can sniff out an attractive human dinner target from a certain distance.

When human beings exhale they expel a plume of carbon dioxide and other odors that travel through the air. The appetizing concoction is the olfactory equivalent of a dinner bell, alerting mosquitoes that a warm meal is within range. Perspiration, a barely avoidable human condition, is also a mosquito lure - but only if the sweat has marinated and formed bacteria.

When a mosquito is trailing an attractive target, it zig-zags following the breath plume until it makes contact, landing on the skin and patiently searches for just the right spot to insert its stylet for an 8-to-10 second feeding session.

Bathing helps reduce the attractiveness of sticky bodies but strangely enough after-bath products do not. Skin care products that clean, soften and moisturize may improve a person's appearance, but are also tantalizing to mosquitoes. Certain medications, including heart and blood pressure medicine, can also alter a person's likelihood of being bitten.

Butler said that he conducted the research in order to explore the tastes of mosquitoes and help humans avoid mosquito-borne diseases.