Mosquitos are getting thirstier for human blood, scientists say

Brace yourself for an itchy spring and summer. Mosquitos could be especially bloodthirsty this year and in the ones to come.

Researchers have found that the blood-sucking insects in Brazil's Atlantic Forest have been feeding more frequently on humans as the forest thins out and other food sources, such as birds, reptiles, fish, and other mammals disappear.

That's worth noting not only for the annoyance factor, but increased mosquito-human activity could increase health risks, researchers said in a study published by Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

“This is crucial because, in an environment like the Atlantic Forest with a great diversity of potential vertebrate hosts, a preference for humans significantly enhances the risk of pathogen transmission,” said Sergio Machado, a researcher who studies microbiology and immunology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

As the deforestation occurs, the bugs change their habitats and habits, feeding more on human populations out of convenience. The bites can transmit a number of viruses, including Yellow Fever, dengue, Zika, and more.

Deforestation in Brazil might not sound like a reason for Americans to be concerned, but the increased density of urban areas could have a similar effect, with animal populations dying out or migrating and mosquitos targeting humans in the spring and summer months.

The study's scientists say the results underscore the need for additional research, that better identifies the blood meals of mosquitos to get a sense of all the animals they're feeding off of. That could help doctors as the bugs continue to spread viruses.

For humans, the mosquito is considered the deadliest animal in the world because of its high transmission of disease. While ecologically important, scientists have been working for years to curb the population to eradicate disease, but have not had tremendous success.