Do Mosquitoes Really Have Preferences? Read On To Learn More

Have you ever sat next to someone who was constantly complaining of mosquito bites while you had not been bitten once? While the idea of ‘sweet blood’ may be your first guess, it’s not quite accurate.

So what is it, really? Why does a mosquito bite one person and not the next? Here are some of the reasons why:

Body odor

Your skin produces and releases chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOCs are particularly influenced by bacteria that live under your skin that may either entice or repel mosquitos. Your genetics also play a big role in your body odor, not to mention your age, hygiene habits as well as any medical conditions you may have.

Mosquitoes are attracted to certain compounds that are present on human skin and in sweat. These compounds give us a specific odor that can draw mosquitoes in.

Several different compounds have been identified as being attractive to mosquitoes. Some that you may be familiar with include lactic acid and ammonia.

Researchers are still investigating the causes of the variations in body odor that make certain people more attractive to mosquitoes. Causes could include genetics, certain bacteria on the skin, or a combination of both. Read more from Healthline

It’s easy to compare mosquitoes to vampires, just because they both feed on human blood. However, it’s not so much how your blood tastes, but more of how your body smells, that influences whether mosquitoes find you ‘attractive’ enough to bite.

What you drink or eat

Some studies have shown that the effects of beer or alcohol consumption include becoming very attractive to mosquitoes. Sweating and body temperature can be affected by what you eat as some foods raise your body’s metabolism.

‘’Another factor that influences your body odor is your diet.

What you eat can affect the type of compounds released from your skin, which bacteria can then metabolize into odorous molecules. Eating also affects your metabolic rate, which can increase your body temperature and sometimes even stimulate sweating.

Given all of this, some scientists think that your diet may also influence how attractive you are to mosquitoes. The studies linking what you eat to a mosquito’s preference toward you are very limited, though. Read more from Houston Methodist…

Who knew your diet could increase your susceptibility to mosquito bites! And not just alcohol, but bananas have also been found to increase your body’s attractiveness to mosquitoes.

Carbon dioxide

Mosquitoes have the ability to sense carbon dioxide from a distance. Your breathing heavily could mean that they are more likely to locate you. They’ll often target your head, because CO2 is coming through your nose and mouth. This is why you’ll hear them make their very annoying buzzing sounds as they fly around your head, driving you crazy.

CO2 carbon dioxide formula written on a note placed in the pocket of a laboratory coat.

When you’re huffing and puffing uphill during your evening run, the amount of carbon dioxide you’re breathing out is probably the last thing on your mind. But it also happens to be one of the primary VOCs that mosquitoes use to find people to feed on.1 Basically, mosquitoes are built to zero in on carbon dioxide, Dr. Pereira tells SELF, so the more you’re pumping out, the more apparent you are to them.

In fact, the little buggers can sense carbon dioxide from as far as 180 to 230 feet away.1 As they fly closer to you and sense the heat of your body, they’ll start to detect other cues on this list, like body odor, which may solidify your status as a blood meal.

Since it’s not possible to stop releasing carbon dioxide, it’s worth keeping this factor in mind (and taking extra precautions) before a strenuous outdoor workout in really buggy areas, especially during the prime mosquito hours of dawn or dusk. Read more from SELF…

Unfortunately, people with larger bodies tend to breathe heavier, so they produce more carbon dioxide and are more likely to be targeted by mosquitoes too.

A common myth that’s been going around for a while is that eating foods rich in vitamin B and garlic might help your body to repel mosquitoes naturally. Unfortunately, this myth has been disproven. The good news is that there are safe and effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Mosquito bites are the worst, they are painful, annoying and can transmit some diseases. This means that action needs to be taken if your home in Mc Lean VA is constantly invaded by mosquitoes. Reach out to us at Backyard Bug Patrol for safe and effective solutions to put an end to mosquito bites and invasions.