How do mosquitoes select their victims?

對(duì)那些很不幸被蚊子列為叮咬對(duì)象的人們來(lái)說(shuō),夏夜就是蚊蟲(chóng)叮咬的代名詞,而有些人卻從沒(méi)被蚊子叮咬過(guò).有研究揭示了這些吸血蟲(chóng)是如何選擇它們的受害對(duì)象的？

For those unfortunate enough to feature highly on the mosquito hit list, summer nights are synonymous with mosquito bites. Yet others hardly ever get bitten. So how do the blood thirsty insects select their victims?

昆蟲(chóng)的口味好像很隨意.然而研究顯示當(dāng)蚊子要從潛在的受害者中選擇對(duì)象時(shí),還是氣味起了決定作用.

The insects' tastes may seem arbitrary. However, research reveals that when mosquitoes make their choice between potential victims, it all comes down to scent:

"蚊子會(huì)被每個(gè)人都會(huì)散發(fā)出的二氧化碳和熱量所吸引,但也會(huì)被某些特定的氣味吸引."研究負(fù)責(zé)人詹森說(shuō).

Mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide and heat, which everyone gives off. But mosquitoes are also attracted by certain scientist, Karl-Martin Vagn Jensen.

在實(shí)驗(yàn)中,帶有研究者氣味的培養(yǎng)皿被放置在一個(gè)蚊子出沒(méi)的地方.蚊子會(huì)反復(fù)地停留在某些培養(yǎng)皿上,卻不會(huì)飛到附近其它的培養(yǎng)皿上.根據(jù)他的說(shuō)法,目前仍沒(méi)確定那些會(huì)吸引蚊子的氣味到底是哪些.但研究的確指出了有些氣味相比較其它氣味而言更會(huì)吸引蚊子.

The scents of the lab employees were deposited on the dishes, which were then put in an enclosure full of mosquitoes. The mosquitoes repeatedly landed on some of the Petri dishes, but didn't go anywhere near the others. According to Jensen, it has not yet been established exactly what the scents in question are. But research does indicate that some scents are more attractive to mosquitoes than others.

有些人宣稱(chēng)大蒜是一種可以用來(lái)對(duì)付蚊子很好的防蟲(chóng)劑.據(jù)研究人員透露,盡管還未經(jīng)證實(shí),但這種方法也并非完全無(wú)效："就我所知,目前沒(méi)有科學(xué)依據(jù)證明吃大蒜會(huì)有效預(yù)防蚊蟲(chóng)叮咬.但在理論上它也許是行得通的,因?yàn)榭梢杂么笏鈦?lái)掩蓋你的氣味."詹森說(shuō).唯一有效的免于蚊蟲(chóng)叮咬的方法是使用在柜臺(tái)處買(mǎi)來(lái)的對(duì)付蚊蟲(chóng)的強(qiáng)效防蚊劑.

There are also those who swear by garlic as an excellent repellent against the winged bloodsuckers. According to the researcher, though unsubstantiated, this strategy may not be entirely fruitless. "As far as I know, there is no scientific proof that eating garlic works. But there may be something to the theory that it's possible to mask your scent with garlic,"he says. The only reliable method of protection against mosquitoes is to use one of the effective repellents that are sold over the counter.

詞語(yǔ)注釋

叮咬（dīngyǎo）bite

受害者（shòuhài zhě）victim

出沒(méi)（chūmò）haunt

培養(yǎng)皿（péiyǎng mǐn）Petri dishes

強(qiáng)效（qiángxiào）effective

(Source: myechinese.com)