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Or is it that the victims pest warning system is currently winning the biological arms race, in which case how are mosquitoes able to successfully reproduce? Or is it that mosquitoes have evolved such that their spawning numbers offset the difficulty they have biting?

Biology is hard.

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[-] seven_phone@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I am sure I read somewhere that they defecate in the hole after they have drawn blood and that is what causes the irritation. That does not sound as if they are particularly worried about being regarded as annoying, in fact it feels like they see it as a bonus.

[-] Mozingo@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago

That sounds completely made up. Why would they do that?

[-] korny@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago
[-] seven_phone@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I definitely had that as vaguely factual, I thought heavy from blood they lightened the load before flying off and the hole was a too tempting target plus they enjoyed the symbolism. I asked ChatGPT and it said it was made up and was quite sneering about it so I suppose that is that.

[-] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

You might be conflating with the housefly which will throw up on food it lands on because the enzymes break it down so they can suck it up.

[-] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

I didn't know mosquitoes enjoyed symbolism. Perhaps I can read them some Baudelaire next time

[-] Ilovemyirishtemper@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

My understanding is that when they bite you, they also inject a bit of anticoagulant to prevent clotting as they suck blood out. The foreign material creates an allergic reaction that itches.

I don't think there would be much of an evolutionary advantage to irritating your victim until they start a pesticidal war against you and your kind.

[-] seven_phone@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

They just seemed to have the correct attitude to do it anyway.

[-] belastend@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Whatever you read was pure mosquitoshit uwu

this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2025
158 points (100.0% liked)

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