Why are flies and mosquitoes attracted to pigs and sweat?

Question

What about flies and garbage, or sweat??? Flies don't "bite" you!

Answer 1

I know specifically for mosquitos: their nose will smell CO2 from an animal, and it is the CO2 that attracts them to the general area. When they fly over the animal, they sense the heat rising from the animal and begin circling down the rising heat until they land on the animal.

The way that mosquito "repellant" works is not by using something "repellant" to the mosquito. The mosquito "repellant" works by using a chemical that "plugs up" the mosquito's nose so it can't smell the CO2.

This means the CO2 in your exhaled breath will not attract the mosquito, but if the mosquito happens to pass over you by accident, it will still find you by circling and descending until it lands on you. You may have noticed that mosquito repellant does not always work - this is why. (This information was covered in a Scientific American article some years ago).

Flies use a sense of smell - each species has specific olfactory cells for specific items; fruit is necessary for some flies to reproduce, carrion in other species. Notice how some flies are attracted to sweat, and other fly species are not? It has to do with their evolution - to the flies that seek out sweat, you smell very good indeed!

Answer 2

The females of blood sucking species(mosquitoes) locate their victims primarily through scent. They are extremely sensitive to the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath, as well as several substances found in sweat. Some people seem to attract mosquitoes more than others. Empirical studies of mosquito bites suggest that the risk of being bitten follows an approximately negative binomial distribution. Being male, being overweight, and having type 'O' blood may increase the risk of being bitten. Mosquitoes can detect heat, so they can find warm-blooded mammals and birds very easily once they get close enough.

Answer 3

Im a Leo and it says I charm to a Capricorn whilst all the way down to earth, in charge, dependable Capricorn meet you, they have met their tournament. you're as ethical as Capricorn, and that they admire your values. you're additionally able to be a dependable and being concerned spouse on your Capricorn, even whilst cases are tricky. you're there to cheer up or motivate your Capricorn - which by no skill is going unappreciated.

Answer 4

not just pigs, any thing it can feed on, anything wet, thats just how they live , on blood, you work just as good as a pig for a fly or mosquito lunch.

Answer 5

mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 we give off.