logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
27m 47s

Why do mosquitoes bite? Scratching that ...

American Public Media
About this episode

In this episode, we're tackling all the mosquito questions that have been bugging our listeners. Why do they bite? Why do the bites itch? Is scratching them a good idea? Why do some people seem to be more delicious to mosquitoes? How can we keep them away from us? And are mosquitoes good for the world? The Hoax Hunters make an appearance plus the Moment of Um answers the question, "What is a solar flare?"



This episode was sponsored by:


Indeed (Indeed.com/brainson)

Up next
Jun 11
A big update about the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit.In the mean ... Show More
2m 56s
Jun 3
The life of a NASA astronaut
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find ... Show More
35m 17s
May 27
How do weather stations predict the weather?
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find ... Show More
28m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2019
Lab 013: Predator
Our city boy/hot girl summers are coming to a close, and while we will miss summer, there’s one thing we won’t miss - mosquitoes. We all were bitten by mosquitoes…A LOT. But mosquitoes don’t just make us itchy - a recent New York Times article called them “the deadliest human pre ... Show More
32m 12s
Oct 2023
Make Mosquitos Like You Less
Surprising dietary remedies to keep away our biting friends. This episode features audio from: Does Eating Garlic Reduce Mosquito Bites? Are Beer, Bananas, and B Vitamins Mosquito Repellents? Visit the video pages for all sources and doctor’s notes related to this podcast. 
11m 51s
Nov 2022
Why do mosquitos bite people?
#051 RebroadcastThis week, Melissa and Jam begin a multi-faceted topic: mosquitos. Now of course mosquitos are insects, so studying them would mostly fall into biology. But there's a lot of chemistry here too. The first question, why do mosquitos bite humans at all? How do they f ... Show More
27m 46s
May 2020
BrainStuff Classics: Are Some People Immune to Mosquitoes?
Some people seem to attract tons of mosquito bites -- others, none at all. Learn what factors attract more mosquitoes -- and why they 'bite' us in the first place -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee ... Show More
6m 59s
Jun 2024
Should We Eradicate Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are common flying insect that inhabit all continents except Antarctica. There are over 3500 species of mosquitoes worldwide, but only somewhere between 6 and 9.3% bite humans and are disease vectors. That said, mosquitos are the deadliest animal on the planet, thanks t ... Show More
1h 11m
Jun 2023
Do mosquitos bite some people more than others?
#052 Rebroadcast This week, Melissa and Jam continue the topic of mosquitos (If you missed last week's, listen to it first). It's time to answer the age-old, every-summer question. Why do some people get bitten by mosquitos more than other people? Or maybe, does this really happe ... Show More
34m 22s
Oct 2023
Do flies get itchy?
Lots of animals feel itchy sometimes! Bears rub their backs on rough tree trunks, dogs love a good belly scratch and birds itch themselves with their feet. But what about flies? Do they get itchy, too? We asked Johns Hopkins graduate student Abel Corver to help us find the answer ... Show More
5 m
Jun 2023
Why DO mosquitos bite some people more than others? (new research!)
#163 We've talked about mosquitos many times around here, why they bite us, how they find us, how to prevent them from biting us, etc. One thing that's struck us is that research about some of those big questions is ongoing and always evolving. And we just came across some super ... Show More
43m 12s
Jul 2020
Why Do Ladybugs Have Spots? Do Dragonflies Bite?
This week, we're getting out our bug nets and talking about dragonflies and ladybugs! Why do ladybugs have spots? How many different types of ladybugs are there? How do they crawl on the ceiling without falling down? Where do dragonflies and ladybugs sleep? Why are dragonflies ca ... Show More
20m 51s
Aug 2019
What Do Mosquitoes Do In Winter?
This episode is all about bugs! We've gotten a lot of questions from you about insects and other critters. So we're tackling them with the help of Jessica Honaker and Kristie Reddick, otherwise known as the Bug Chicks. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript 
20m 35s