The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- John Furner
A doctor has explained why you might not feel a mosquito bite at the time.
In a TikTok posted in June, Dr Sermed Mezher, from London, said the way mosquitos bite you is ‘so high tech’ it means you usually cannot feel it.
Only female mosquitos bite you, he explained, because ‘they need extra nourishment to be able to provide for their young.’
The reason you will feel nothing, or maybe a light sting, is because female mosquitoes’ saliva has a similar quality to anesthetic.
The insects ‘begin by injecting ‘a local anesthetic on the skin so that you won’t be able to feel any of the six needles going inside,’ Dr Mezher said.
Only female mosquitos bite you, he explained, because ‘they need extra nourishment to be able to provide for their young’
He said: ‘The two outer ones you see here are saws for cutting through the skin, and the others are for detection and absorption of blood from the blood vessels.’
It can take hours or days for someone to feel a mosquito bite. Dr Mezher said the process is ‘so efficient that by the time you actually feel the mosquito bite you, it’s already gone.’
In the caption, he added that mosquitoes have evolved to have an ‘extraordinary ability to find blood vessels and withdraw blood without causing significant damage or discomfort.’
He added: ‘Their feeding technique involves a combination of chemical cues, sensory perception, and a complex proboscis structure, all working in harmony to facilitate their meal.’
Research has shown female mosquitos follow plumes rich in carbon dioxide, the gas we breathe out.
They detect who to bite based on how much carbon dioxide they breath out, as well as the type and quantity of sweat we produce.
Heat was also shown to be important, with objects at body heat proving of more interest to mosquitos than those at room temperature.
