Things That Make You Extra Attractive To Mosquitoes
By
Editorial Staff in
Facts
On 12th August 2017
There are some things in life that are annoyingly unavoidable, and one of those things is mosquitos. We’re all familiar with itchy annoyance that accompanies being bit by mosquitos. There seems to be no way to avoid the little buggers during those summer barbecues and late night bonfires. You’re probably all too familiar with the sprays, lotions and candles that supposedly deter these blood suckers, but why do they even target you in the first place? Not ‘you’ as in us, humans, in general, but you as an individual. What makes each person more susceptible to mosquito bites than the next person?
There are a few things that make a person more attractive to the awful insects, even including the color of your clothes! Find out if any of the following things attract mosquitos to you.
#1
As summer comes around so does one of the season's most notorious pests – mosquitoes. While people may actually be more or less prone to being on the receiving end of mosquito bites, a lot of factors are at play when a mosquito decides which person it visits. And fortunately, some of those factors are very much in your control.
Mosquitoes aren’t looking for sugar, they want protein and iron to get ready to lay their eggs someplace (and, FYI, it’s only females that bite—not males.) Here are all real reasons you’re so damn appetizing to pesky mosquitoes.
#2 Sweat
Your sweat produces lactic acid which is an attractant for mosquitoes.
Sweating during a trek or a jog around the neighborhood may make you a target for mosquito bites, as found in studies here, here and here. Similar with carbon dioxide, mosquitoes get attracted by lactic acid which we humans produce when we sweat.
#3 Blood Type
Unfortunately, not all of the causes are something you can actually do something about. Take blood type, for example. One study has found that while those who have blood type O coursing through their veins are more likely to get a less than friendly visit from a mosquito than other blood types, they’re only more attractive to the insects when compared with those with blood type A.
They found that a particular sugar found in blood type O was attractive to the mosquitoes, though once a mosquito has picked its target, it's unlikely blood type will make much difference.
#4 Carbon Dioxide
It turns out mosquitoes don’t bite randomly. Instead, they hone in on a victim by following a steady output of carbon dioxide.
Richard Pollack, an instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health and adviser to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, said mosquitoes are adept at figuring out where their target is by following these exhaled trails.
“If you were to exercise vigorously, you would produce more carbon dioxide for a brief period,” Pollack told ABC News. “You might [then] perhaps be a little more attractive to mosquitoes.”
Unfortunately, there’s no good way to cut down on carbon dioxide aside from holding your breath, Pollack said. So if you’re getting bitten, you might want to head inside.
#5 Skin Bacteria
Mosquito bites are only skin deep. Scientists claim that the type and amount of bacteria on your skin can play a huge role in making you more or less attractive to these insects.
The equation goes something like this:
The less bacteria you have on your skin, the more likely you are to be bitten.
#6 Pregnancy
Women with a bun in the oven are probably those least wanting to attract mosquitoes, but alas, some species are evidently more attracted to pregnant women than women who are not.
One study in Africa found that pregnant women are twice as attractive to malaria carrying mosquitoes as non-pregnant women; researchers believe it is due to an increase in carbon dioxide – they found that women in late pregnancy exhaled 21 percent greater volume of breath than non-pregnant women. They also discovered that the abdomens of pregnant women were 1.26°F hotter, adding to the mosquitoes-like-warm-bodies component.
#7 Smell
Some people's bodies emit attractant compounds, while others emit repellent compounds. It's unclear why or how this works, though several studies have attempted to isolate the chemicals to use them for mosquito traps or natural bug spray.
#8 Dark clothing
Dark clothing makes you a dead giveaway for bleary-eyed mosquitoes trying to find a meal. Since they tend to zoom around lower to the ground, someone wearing all black would stand out in contrast against the sky. Wearing light colors offers you a bit of camouflage. This also goes for movement. If you’re still, you blend in with the scenery, but if you’re gesturing wildly you’re showing signs of a vivid life force. Nom.
#9 Beer
This may be the most unfortunate truth of all— mosquitoes love beer. Okay, they may not specially be attracted to brew, but they do love people who have been drinking beer compared to those who haven’t. Researchers say it has to do with sweat and an increase in body temperature. Makes sense as any beer drinker can tell you.
Just one 12 ounce beer can significantly raise your temperature enough to attract more mosquitoes. So, if you’re planning on hosting a backyard barbecue complete with some cold ones, you may want to invest in repellent. While scientists haven’t exactly pinpointed why mosquitoes are attracted to beer drinkers over others, besides the sweat thing, they have established it as fact. Sorry, guys.
