Do you notice that some people seem to be bitten by mosquitoes more than others? When you are out camping, for example, there is always this one person full of mosquito bites while the rest of the group hasn’t been bitten once. Yes, mosquitoes are attracted to certain people.
Why mosquitoes are attracted to certain people
Here are the biggest factors that make certain people more attractive to mosquitoes compared to others.
1. Body heat
Mosquitoes look for multiple signs of life when finding viable targets. One of the strongest signs they look for is body heat. With the thermal receptors on their antennae and mouthparts, they can sense body heat in their vicinity.
Yes, mosquitoes are attracted to certain people. If a person has a higher body temperature compared to those around them, they can be more vulnerable to mosquito bites simply because they are showing a strong sign of life.
2. Blood type
Multiple studies suggest that mosquitoes are attracted to certain blood types. More specifically, they are attracted to people with blood type O. In a 1974 study, researchers recruited more than a hundred people to identify mosquito attractors, and they found out that those with blood type O were getting more attraction. In a more recent study in 2019, researchers presented mosquitoes with different blood types, and they found out that mosquitoes did prefer blood type O.
There are also studies that suggest that the different antigens found in the blood can influence how attractive a person is to mosquitoes. A good example is this 2004 study where researchers found that mosquitoes are more attracted to those with H antigens compared to those with A antigens.
3. Carbon dioxide
Heat is not the only sign of life mosquitoes look for. After all, inanimate objects such as rocks can still emit heat. Mosquitoes need more signs of life to find viable targets. One of the other signs they look for is carbon dioxide.
We exhale carbon dioxide, and it’s something we can’t really completely eliminate to avoid mosquitoes and their bites. But we can somehow influence the amount of carbon dioxide we exhale. For example, if you are exercising or have just finished an exercise routine, you are breathing more heavily, and therefore more attractive to mosquitoes. What you can do as a workaround is avoid exercising at night when mosquitoes are more active.
4. Dark clothing
Mosquitoes are attracted to certain colors. This is because certain colors are indications of life. Mosquitoes like black, orange, and red as these colors emit the same light as that of human skin. Sure, mosquitoes can’t see images as clearly as humans. But visual cues such as light emissions are not foreign to them.
Mosquitoes are attracted to certain people, such as those who like to wear clothes of these colors, particularly those with darker hues. If you are going to an area with lots of mosquitoes, consider wearing light-colored clothes.
5. Home cleanliness
It’s not always about you and your body. Sometimes, it’s also about your environment. You are more vulnerable to mosquitoes if your surroundings have the ideal conditions for mosquitoes to thrive. Get rid of stagnant water and just excess moisture in general, so you don’t give mosquitoes breeding grounds. Throw away clutter and trim greeneries, so you don’t give mosquitoes hiding spots.
These tips are simple but they can go a long way, whether you live in a house with a big garden or in a small and humble apartment.
6. Natural sweat attracts mosquitoes
When mosquitoes detect body heat and carbon dioxide in their potential targets, they move closer for more inspection. They will look at the compounds on the surface (your skin) to confirm that the potential target is a human. One of the compounds they look for is sweat, or more specifically, the lactic acid in your sweat.
You may think that you are safe against mosquitoes because you don’t sweat at all. But this is not true. You sweat naturally even if you don’t do intense physical activity. This is one of the reasons many people shower before going to bed even though they work in an office. You can help prevent mosquito bites at night by showering before going to sleep.
7. Nocturnal habits
Are you a naturally nocturnal person? Are you forced to stay up all night because of your office or school responsibilities? If you are, you may be some of the certain people mosquitoes are more attracted to than usual.
Mosquitoes like to be in dark places. Mosquitoes thrive in environments that are moist and not too hot. Many times, dark places have these conditions. This is why you often see mosquitoes flying around when you turn on your bathroom lights at night. Due to your nocturnal habits, you are more likely to be in dark places where mosquitoes like to be in, so you become more vulnerable to their attacks.
8. Mosquitoes are attracted to pregnant women
Mosquitoes are attracted to certain people, including pregnant women. Pregnant women have more body heat, especially in their belly area. This makes them more susceptible to sweating. They also exhale more carbon dioxide compared to other people.
As mentioned earlier, body heat, carbon dioxide, and sweat are some of the strongest signs of life mosquitoes look for. And since pregnant women have these signs in abundance, they naturally attract more mosquitoes. It doesn’t help that pregnant women are affected differently by mosquito-borne diseases. The women and their children can experience a variety of complications, including passing down the disease to the children.
9. Repellent use will stop mosquitoes from being attracted to you.
Some people apply repellents on their skin to help prevent mosquitoes. Others prefer to use natural repellents. You can dilute essential oils such as citronella, lavender, and peppermint in water and use them as sprays. Some people also prevent mosquitoes in more creative ways, such as the use of fans since they can easily blow mosquitoes away.
Yes, mosquitoes are attracted to certain people
If you don’t go out of your way to repel mosquitoes, you will naturally be a target. You have all the incentive in the world to avoid mosquitoes since they are some of the deadliest animals on the planet. You could try a commercial repellent to help protect yourself from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases. Or try natural repellents etc., but whatever you do, it is in your best interests to keep these bugs away from you.