Why Do Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears?
Aedes albopictusI would write a brilliant blog tonight, but I am tired. Not because of bad dreams or pressure at work. No, I am sleepy because of a small winged, creature who snuck into my room and proceeded to offer a high pitched tone directly into my ear. When I turned on the lights to find it, it was not there. When I gave up and attempted sleep, buzzzz… or maybe zzzzinnng? I would find the perfect word, but as mentioned, I am too tired.
Dang mosquito.
Mosquitoes are actually the most dangerous animals in the world, killing more than two million people per year. In the United States alone, there are 150 different species, each carrying a different type of disease. The most common species found in the U.S. include the Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens and Anopheles quadrimaculatus, but what I am interested in tonight is, why do they buzz? Why right in my ear? Why?
According to the West African tale, it happened this way: a mosquito said something foolish to the iguana who put sticks in his ears to hear no more of such foolishness. This frightened the next animal and thus created a chain of panic until a monkey killed an owlet which caused the mother owl to mourn and neglect her duties of waking the sun. The animals were furious with the mosquito. So, mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears cause they are asking if everyone is still angry with them. I’m not buying it.
A ranger at a local park told me that since mosquitoes are attracted by the smell of carbon dioxide, given off by us when we exhale, perhaps the mosquitoes benefit from our jumping about when they try to buzz us, causing more breathing and more carbon goodness. Another expert said it was a little warning sign, a gift from nature, like a snake’s rattle. Another said the tone attracts the male. Then why in MY ear? Does anybody really know?
Here’s a few things I do know:
- Mosquitoes are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.
- Only female mosquitoes suck blood so that their eggs can mature prior to laying. The blood serves no nourishment. Both males and females feed on nectar.
- She will often drink more than her weight in blood in one “sitting.”
- A mosquito does not “bite”, but siphon the blood out by a tube.
- The only place mosquitoes do not live is Antarctica.
- You can scare off mosquitoes by eating garlic! For more tips on keeping them away, check out: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/mosquitopesticides
- You can get a mosquito buzz ringtone on your mobile phone that is rumored to be at a frequency too high for those over 40 to hear. (17KHz Mosquito .wav). I could hear it fine, by the way, but why would anyone want to?
I am now off to sleep with no answers, fearing another night of mystery buzz tones. If anyone can tell my why mosquitoes buzz in our ears, please do. With sleep and knowledge, I promise my next blog will be brilliant.
Amy Gotliffe is Conservation Manager at The Oakland Zoo.
Do scientists know why some people get bit more often than other people? When my wife and I are around mosquitoes, she is like a magnet. She gets all of the bites and I get hardly any.
They buzz everywhere, but you only notice when they’re going past your ear?
Yes Barry this also happens to me - mosquitoes banquet on me while my husband seems to have an immunity of sorts most of the time. I’d also be interested in figuring that out :!
Does anyone know if mosquitoes sleep? I’m wondering most creatures do - it doesn’t matter when you go outside in southern Louisiana, they are there. Thanks for any info
I’ve heard mosquitos go for the most “prominent” target. If your wife moves more than you (and breathes heavier), her motion attracts the insect more than you. She gets bit. A great mosquito defense is to move (and breath) less than your peers around you. Just like a cheetah goes for the sick and weak, mosquitos go for the moving and breathing. Also, some folks aren’t as allergic to the enzyme that makes bites itch. So they may be getting bit, but not realize it as much.
I found this thread because I am trying to learn about mosquito sleep and ambush behaviors. They seem to lie in wait in my grass until I appear. Yet, I can’t see them when I look at the grass. They appear on me in about 10 seconds though. Do they sleep? If so where? In the grass? Holes in the dirt? On tree limbs?
Mosquitos go after warm spots through there millions of eyes. Because ears are in the head, where humans loose more body temperature, they go after them.
Why mosquitos buzz by your ear? They want you to try and slap your ear and face hard, so it would fill with blood, so they would have an easier time sucking it out! :P
Actually the One above me .. “Buzz” .. is not totally wrong ..
Mosquitos , do want you to slap your ear … but why ..
Easy .. they are smarter .. then what we think of them ..
You see Mosquitos are attracted by Heat , you wont find them in freezy winters ..
There are Two kinds of blood living beings .. Clod blood (Insects & some reptiles), Hot blood (Mamals , some reptiles, etcc ).. humans are hot blood living beings.. Thus for a cold blooded Mosquito to find blod is by finding heat in human body.. and while you sleep, normally in comforting bed, your eards become warmer .. and attract Mosquito.. NOW its not Finished.. i know my way of explaining is not very clear .. but pls bare .. so first factor of Heat - biology is clear ..
now 2nd - throught experience every livingbeing learns and adopts to its best comfirt .. Through experience of ear slapping of humans when Mosquito go near it .. made them learn .. something .. That Buzzing in sweet Amy’s ears .. will result in a Hand full of Blood coming out of the blanket to slap the ear .. and there is a good chance that this hand will remain uncovered after ..
SO HERE YOU GO .. Its
1 - A biological - Heat Attraction Factor
2 - A lesson they Learnt to bait humans for Blood.
In the end all I can say is ..
Let the Mosquito do its living.. and You do yours .. TRY SLEEP.
PS - May be Mosquito’s Blog he has written an artcle about humans / amy .. that when ever I try to warn them that ” Dont get disturbed I am just taking a bit of your blood for my children / eggs” Why the hell always starting slaping themselves and cursing the Mosquitos..
Sleepwell
Lavish