Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

 
name         Rebeca
status       student
age          14

Question -   Why don't you feel a mosquito bite until after it begins
to itch?
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A mosquitoes has a very tiny probiscis that makes such a small wound in your
skin that you usuallly don't feel it. The wound is also so small that blood
would almost instantly clot and not flow, so the mosquitoe injects an
anti-coagulant to keep blood flowing. It is the anti-coagulant that makes
you itch.
J. Elliott
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