US EditionMosquitoes' Thirst for Human Blood Has Increased as Biodiversity Loss Worsens
Mosquitoes in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest shift to feeding on humans as deforestation and biodiversity loss reduce animal hosts, increasing risk of disease transmission, study finds.
- Researchers at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro found mosquitoes in Atlantic Forest reserves are increasingly feeding on humans, as published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution on January 15, 2026.
- Habitat loss and expanding human settlements have reduced the Atlantic Forest to about one third its original size, and researchers say this shrinkage drives mosquitoes to feed more on humans.
- Laboratory analysis separated 145 engorged females from 1,714 mosquitoes, identifying 24 blood meals via DNA sequencing of a vertebrate 'barcode' gene, revealing 18 humans, six birds, one amphibian, one canid and one mouse.
- A preference for human blood increases transmission risk as researchers warn heightened mosquito–humans contact could spur outbreaks and `This allows for targeted surveillance and prevention actions`, concluded Alencar.
- Researchers urge restoring the biome while continuing study, noting ecosystem restoration is needed to reverse rising human feeding amid data gaps: fewer than 7% engorged and 38% identification success.
14 Articles
14 Articles
The preference of mosquitoes for human blood increases as deforestation progresses and animal species disappear from their natural habitats. A new study by the Oswaldo Cruz Institute and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, shows that these insects are changing their feeding patterns in response to biodiversity loss. Research reveals worrying data on the relationship between environmental des…
Forest loss is driving mosquitoes’ thirst for human blood
In the rapidly disappearing Atlantic Forest, mosquitoes are adapting to a human-dominated landscape. Scientists found that many species now prefer feeding on people rather than the forest’s diverse wildlife. This behavior dramatically raises the risk of spreading dangerous viruses such as dengue and Zika. The findings reveal how deforestation can quietly reshape disease dynamics.
Mosquitoes are getting hungry for more human blood. Humans are to blame for it
Mosquitoes in the Atlantic Forest region and other regions across the world are known to transmit viruses such as yellow fever, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, all of which pose significant risks to human health.
As human presence expels animals from their habitats, mosquitoes that used to feed on a wide variety of hosts may be finding new human targets.
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