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Ancient Mosquitoes Adapted to Early Humans, Study Finds
2/26/2026
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Story summary
- A study in Scientific Reports shows mosquitoes fed on early humans between 2.9 and 1.6 million years ago, aligning with Homo erectus' migration to Southeast Asia around 1.8 million years ago.
- DNA from 38 mosquitoes across 11 species in the Anopheles leucosphyrus group shows adaptation to human blood in Sundaland.
- This adaptation reflects odor cues from early hominins and informs mosquito evolution and Southeast Asian human migration.
