5 reasons mosquitoes bite some more than others

Pregnant women attract twice as many mosquitoes than their non-pregnant peers

If you have ever wondered why mosquitoes buzz around some people more often than others, you probably think right.

An entomologist and technical advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association has said that there is “no question that some individuals are more attractive to mosquitoes due to chemicals they secrete from their skin and from their particular skin flora."

Talking to Health.com, Joseph M Conlon revealed some biological factors can turn a person into skeeter bait.

Here are five reasons that can make you irresistible to the little buggers:



Pregnancy

A study published in The Lancet found pregnant women attracted twice as many mosquitoes than their non-pregnant peers. One of the reason being: an expecting mother exhales 21 per cent more C02 – carbon dioxide – a gas that appeals to female mosquitoes. Another one, according to a professor at the department of entomology at Cornell University, Laura Harrington, pregnant women emit volatile odors that attract insects.

A pregnant woman. PHOTO: REUTERS

Sweat

Lactic acid, a byproduct excreted through sweat after vigorous physical activity draws mosquitoes, says Conlon.  Your body temperature is high when you are sweating profusely and  “warmth becomes more attractive as mosquitoes approach a potential host,” adds Conlon.

Mosquitoes are attracted to sweat. PHOTO: REUTERS

Type O blood

Just like you have favourite fro-yo flavours, mosquitoes possess so-called landing preferences, and one of them has to do with what’s running through your veins. A study in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that the bloodthirsty fiends are extra attracted to individuals with type O blood. "Type O individuals may share a propensity for exuding certain odors that mosquitoes find attractive," suggests Conlon.

A nurse tests a blood sample. PHOTO: REUTERS

Alcohol

A study conducted by PLOS ONE on men in West Africa who drank either beer or water, revealed that "beer consumption consistently increased volunteers' attractiveness to mosquitoes."



Referring to another experiment done in Japan that affirmed that mosquitoes were drawn to people who had consumed alcohol, Harrington pointed out that “how widespread that phenomenon is truly remains unclear.”

A glass of beer. PHOTO: REUTERS

Genes

Research suggests an underlying genetic mechanism could affect whether you get bitten or not. According to scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, certain people genetically produce more natural mosquito repellents than others.

A DNA double helix is seen in an undated artist's illustration. PHOTO: REUTERS