Thanks to their blood-sucking ways, the 3,500 species of ectoparasite known as mosquitoes have become buzzing symbols of irritation and disease. We’re usually only worried with what happens after a mosquito bites us, but what if the blood sucking itself was the really dangerous part? How many mosquitoes would it take to drain all of your blood?This thought experiment comes from my favorite recent anime, One Punch Man. In the second episode of season one, Saitama and Genos face of against Mosquito Girl, a demon-level threat who controls massive swarms of mosquitoes. She uses those insects to drain an entire dude of blood, a fate that presumably would have befallen O.P.M and Genos had she not been splattered in a single swipe. The question is still alive though: how many mosquitoes would it take to drain a person completely? Would it really take just seconds? Is it even possible?[brightcove video_id=”5850060521001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=”rJs2ZD8x”]In my latest episode of Because Science, I’m tackling this disturbing question. Turn back now if you don’t want to think about just how many mosquitoes could physically fit on your skin…After you watch the new episode, check out my last video on how we should biologically classify the symbiote Venom, buy a Because Science shirt, mug, hat, or collectible pin, and follow me on Twitter or on Instagram to give me a suggestion for the next episode. Want Because Science even earlier? Subscribe to Alpha for access to the show two full days before anyone else.

Catch up on the latest Because Science!

• Never do a “superhero landing”
• Can you block bullets like Deadpool?
• Why you don’t want the power of invisibility