A doctor has revealed why many are never able to feel a mosquito bite until a few hours or days after being bitten.
That horrible itchiness you get from those little, long-legged monsters on holiday is really quite annoying.
And it's even more annoying that the symptoms appear long after you've actually been bit.
Advert
Taking to TikTok, award-winning Dr Sermed Mezher, from London, has revealed the 'complicated' reason why that is the case.
The YouTube doctor - who is 'on a mission to make health simple' - uploaded a TikTok back in June, explaining why a mosquito bite 'involves a series of intricate processes'.
"The way mosquitoes bite you and stay undetected is so high tech you won't believe it," Dr Mezher told his 110k followers.
He revealed that 'it's only female mosquitoes that actually bite you' and this is 'because they need extra nourishment to be able to provide for their young'.
Advert
Basically, it's not looking good for those who sweat a lot.
"Male mosquitoes actually get most of their nourishment just from plant sap, taking the sweet part, then using that instead," the doctor continued.
"Female mosquitoes detect who to bite based on how much carbon dioxide they're breathing out, and the type and quantity of sweat.
"Once they've spotted their target, then their surgical strike begins."
The reason why you will either feel nothing, or perhaps a light pinch, is because female insects start by injecting 'a local anaesthetic on the skin so that you won't be able to feel any of the six needles going inside'.
Advert
"The two outer ones you see here are saws for cutting through the skin and the others are for detection and absorption of blood from the blood vessels," he continued.
"This process is so efficient that by the time you actually feel the mosquito bite you, it's already gone."
"Interestingly, mosquitoes have evolved an extraordinary ability to find blood vessels and withdraw blood without causing significant damage or discomfort," the doctor added the caption.
"Their feeding technique involves a combination of chemical cues, sensory perception, and a complex proboscis structure, all working in harmony to facilitate their meal."
Advert
Taking to the comments, one user wrote: "At least they use anaesthetic that’s quite nice of them."
Another said: "I sweat so easily so this is great."
While someone else wondered: "Why can’t injections be like this, I hate the feeling of needles?"
I'm with you on that one.
Anish Vij