Living with the tiger mosquito
Why do mosquito bites itch so much?
Jeanne Fenouil, science writer at the Institut Pasteur, explains all about these fearsome little insects.
During reproduction, the female mosquito needs blood. To do this, she uses her ultra-flexible proboscis, which has two separate channels:
- One injects saliva containing anticoagulants and anaesthetics.
- The other sucks up blood to feed the female and her future larvae.
It is this saliva, perceived as an intruder by our immune system, that causes itching. Our body reacts by causing local inflammation, hence the famous itchy bites!
Mosquitoes can also transmit viruses such as dengue fever, Zika and chikungunya through their bites. In France, the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has established itself in almost 80% of départements, taking advantage of trade and global warming to expand its territory.
To protect yourself, it's best to eliminate stagnant water, cover your arms and legs, and keep abreast of scientific advances to better understand their behaviour.
(video in french, English subtitles available)