Mosquito Research

I LET MOSQUITOS FEED ON ME
WITH VID
By Kiara Wells
Watch as one medical entomologist shares the reasons why she lets jars full of mosquitos feed from her arm.
Veronique Paris, 35, from Melbourne, Australia, has been documenting her work with mosquitoes, posting shocking clips of the bugs latching onto her skin.
In another clip, Veronique breaks down common mosquito myths that not all species bite, and of those that do, only females feed on blood ,and that’s not even for energy, but to provide protein for egg development.
She explains that a female mosquito only takes between three to five microlitres of blood, while still relying on nectar for energy.
Her engaging videos also reveal that different mosquito species and even different populations feed on different hosts, giving viewers a deeper insight into the insect world many of us try to avoid.
Veronique herself doesn't shy away from letting her blood be drained, capturing viewers attention and landing her with thousands of views online.
She said: "The way these systems work can depend on the particular lab using them and how it may affect mosquitoes depends on a lot of factors like which mosquito species is being maintained. Not all labs are the same, not all mosquitoes are the same etc.
"I really love my job and enjoy the multitude of different things I get to do as a scientist."
ENDS