Monthly Archives: June 2022

Eau d’urea: why mosquitoes feed on cattle urine

pixabay Heri Santoso

Mosquitoes and other insects are known to be attracted to (and use) secretions from their hosts and other animals. Mengistu Dawit and colleagues describe the surprisingly sophisticated feeding behavior of Anopheles arabiensis on cattle urine to supplement their nutrients. The necessity for feeding on cattle urine depends on the physiological stage of the mosquito (i.e. before or after a blood feed) and what the extra nutrients are needed for.

Biology Health