Why Mosquitoes Bite some People and Leave Others Alone

Why mosquitoes bite some people and leave others alone

Why mosquitoes bite some people and leave others alone, it’s not in your head. Those summer evenings around the fire, trips to the beach, and family hikes through the trail where you were practically covered in mosquito bites while everyone else was left virtually untouched? It turns out, there’s actually a scientific reason why mosquitoes bite some people and leave others alone. Luckily, there are also extra things you can do to help prevent those itchy bug bites in the future.

How Do Mosquitoes Choose Who to Snack On?

There are several factors that influence those pesky winged insects’ choice of meal, and unfortunately, almost all of them are out of your control. Here’s why mosquitoes bite some people and leave others alone.

Mosquitoes Love Heavy Breathers

Mosquitoes are attracted by our breath- specifically, the carbon dioxide that we all exhale. So, if you’re outside working up a sweat and increasing your breathing rate, you’re putting yourself on a mosquitoes radar.

Mosquitoes Prefer Sticky People

Your sweat has a few different ingredients, the most attractive of which to mosquitoes is lactic acid. The more you sweat, the tastier you are to them. In fact, it’s said that older sweat leads to more mosquito bites than “fresh” sweat. That’s why you might notice you’re getting more bug bites the longer it’s been since you last showered.

Mosquitoes Are Obsessed with Drinkers

Bad news for everyone who likes to enjoy a glass of wine or a cold one sitting around by the pool at night. A study confirmed that the increased ethanol content in your sweat and breath when drinking significantly increases mosquito attraction.

Mosquitoes Have Taste… For Bacteria

Our bodies are petri dishes for bacterial cultures- but what it comes down to is keeping our bodies healthy and in balance. Everyone’s microflora makeup is a little different, and some types of bacteria work to repel mosquitoes, while others are practically ringing the dinner bell.

People with generally more bacteria on their skin than average were more attractive to mosquitoes. Chances are, if you’re prone to smelly feet, you’re a target too!

Mosquitoes Fancy Type O Blood (And A, too!)

A study also concluded that mosquitoes land significantly more often on people with Type O blood, and people with Type A blood weren’t too far behind. Meanwhile, Types B and AB weren’t a big influence.

Repelling those Pesky Buggers

Mosquitoes usually feed at dawn and dusk when the wind tends to die down and the humidity rises. If you can stay indoors at those times, you’ll avoid bites. A good fan pointed in your direction will also do a great job of keeping the bugs away. Mosquitoes can’t fly in a breeze faster than 1 mile per hour. It is also recommended using a mosquito repellant with 15% DEET. Just make sure to follow the label’s instructions for safe application. Spray it into your hands and then rub it on your skin to avoid inhaling it. That will protect you for around 90 minutes.

If all that fails, hug a bite-free buddy. Maybe some of their mosquito-repelling skin chemicals will rub off on you.