Experts have debunked myths about mosquitoes and told how they are dangerous

Someone thinks that mosquitoes bite depending on the blood type. Others say the number is different every year. And now there may be fewer mosquitoes, for example, than last year. The hosts of the program "Ranok z Ukraine" on the channel "Ukraine" Maria Melnyk and Hryhoriy Herman found out what is a myth from this and what is true.

They can ruin your best summer evening, and sometimes your entire vacation. The night squeak that drives you crazy and the bitten body that itches every second. Here it is, summer, and with it mosquitoes. But have you ever wondered why they even drink blood?

“Only females bite and they have an excuse - they do it for life, they pass it on to their children, to posterity, without this they cannot! " - comments biologist-entomologist Igor Nebogatkin in the program "Ranok z Ukraine ".

The males in this pair are real vegans and eat nectar. And they stick to each other. Therefore, when you see a whole swarm of mosquitoes, know that these are men and they will not bite you. But the females are still those gourmets! Not every person's blood is to their taste.

“By the way, mosquitoes carry out a certain test for biological age - if mosquitoes stop biting you, then you are either old or you need to go to the oncologist. The mosquito goes directly to the source of carbon dioxide, and a person with cancer has less of it, ”says therapist Viktor Skachko on the air of the Ukraine channel.

Mosquitoes find us by the smell of carbon dioxide we breathe out. But the “tasty victim” is chosen by body odor and temperature. Firstly, mosquitoes are very attracted by the smell of sweat and the substances that it contains! Secondly, the more protein in the blood, the tastier it is. And here the owners of the first blood group were not lucky. People with diabetes and a sweet tooth are also targeted. After all, when you eat the candy, your blood and skin will become really sweet for mosquitoes! Scientists have shown that mosquitoes also attract drunk people.

But the fact that from year to year the number of mosquitoes is either less or more, like, for example, the harvest of apricots is a myth!

“Such a noticeable mass emergence is practically not noticeable. This myth is associated with midges - these are small blood-sucking insects that reproduce every three years, ”said the biologist-entomologist.

Malaria, yellow fever and Dengue disease. Mosquitoes transmit about 50 diseases, but mostly in tropical countries. However, Ukrainian bloodsuckers are also not harmless. And if mosquitoes bite older people less often, then young people and especially children are the most troublesome. Children's skin is more sensitive and suffers more.

“They can cause allergic reactions, so people with weaker immunity will have more active reactions to the bite. On the other hand, they can carry some parasites, for example, canine roundworm, - said the therapist. - The child will comb and this can intensify the reaction, it can tear the skin, cause suppuration. Wash the bite site, the meadow will neutralize the acid and the itching will stop, the child will stop combing it. "

Usually, after a mosquito bite, a spot of half a centimeter remains, but if the reaction was large and the skin is very swollen, consult a doctor. And don't panic that it could be malaria. Perhaps you just have a weakened immune system.

Watch the program "Ranok with Ukraine" on weekdays at 6:30 on the channel "Ukraine".