Where water is scarce, Aedes mosquitoes mingle more with humans. By Elizabeth PennisiIn most of the world, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is notorious for biting humans and spreading dengue, Zika, and other viruses.
But in Africa, where the mosquito is native, most Aedes prefer to suck blood from other animals, such as monkeys and rodents.
A new study suggests, though, that their taste for humans may rapidly expand—and with it their ability to spread disease.By surveying the range of Aedes biting preferences across Africa, the study shows that dryness and dense populations favor strains that target people.
Those conditions are likely to intensify in Africa with climate change and increasing urbanization, though not everywhere.“The work is