Forest loss is linked to more mosquitoes biting humans

A study in Brazil's Atlantic Forest found that mosquitoes caught in forest remnants often carried human blood, and the authors link this pattern to habitat loss and nearby human settlement.

A study in Brazil's Atlantic Forest reports that mosquitoes caught in forest remnants showed a clear tendency to feed on humans. Researchers analyzed blood found in female mosquitoes by sequencing vertebrate DNA to identify hosts. The authors say this shift is linked to long-term forest loss and expanding human presence near remaining habitat. Key findings: - Researchers trapped 1,714 mosquitoes representing 52 species; 145 females had recent blood meals and the team identified the host species for 24 of those meals, of which 18 were human. - Some mosquitoes had mixed blood meals, including combinations that paired human and non-human hosts. - The authors link increased human feeding to deforestation and reduced availability of wildlife hosts as people move into former forest areas. - The study notes limited detection rates—fewer than 7% of captured mosquitoes had visible blood meals and only about 38% of those could be identified—and calls for larger, more detailed studies. Summary: The study reports that mosquitoes in remnants of the Atlantic Forest were often feeding on humans, a pattern the authors associate with habitat loss and nearby human presence. The researchers say further, larger studies are needed to clarify feeding patterns and improve detection of mixed blood meals.