Why Do Mosquitoes Prefer Biting You?

In a summer evening, you came home from outside with several red and itchy mosquito bites on your skin. However, the friend with you has none. Have you wondered why do mosquitoes always prefer you?

Actually, about 20% of people are more appealing to mosquitoes, so they get bitten more frequently. Scientists have offered many explanations for why mosquitoes prefer to bite these people. Here are some factors may explain your experience.

1. Carbon dioxide exhalation

These small but startling hunters have tentacles that can detect more than 70 kinds of odor and chemical substances, and are very sensitive to carbon dioxide and other compounds exhaled by your body. Study shows that they can even detect carbon dioxide about 50 meters away. Generally, pregnant women and people with more vigorous metabolism or larger body size exhale more carbon dioxide, thus is more likely to attract mosquitoes.

2. Body temperature and lactic acid

Mosquitoes will choose their targets based on lactic acid, uric acid and other substances excreted when people sweat. Female mosquitoes prefer sucking blood of people with higher body temperature which are perfect for their reproduction. Since exercise promotes the increase of lactic acid and leads to the rise of body temperature, it is very easy for people after exercising to attract mosquitoes.

3. Bacteria type on skin

According to a research in 2011, some certain types of bacteria on your skin make you easier to attract mosquitoes. However, mosquitoes are not interested in the skin with too many kinds of bacteria. This may explain why mosquitoes particularly like to bite our ankles and feet - because these areas have a more stable bacterial composition.

4. Beer drinking

Drinking beer can also make you get bitten easily by mosquitoes. Researchers think the reason may be the increase alcohol content in your sweat or your body temperature rise. However, there has been no evidence to support their conjecture yet, which makes this phenomenon an unsolved mystery.

5. Dark clothes

Mosquitoes use vision and smell to find their preys, dark environment is their favorite. If you wear clothes with dark colors (black, dark blue or red) , the reflective effect will cause a slightly dark vision and may make you more vulnerable to mosquitoes.

6. Genetic inheritance

Genetic inheritance may also explain the differences in human attractiveness to mosquitoes. It means you will naturally release more lactic acid than your friends therefore is more appealing to mosquitoes.

How to keep mosquitoes away?

We all agree that the buzzing and biting of mosquitoes are super annoying. It is also an unpleasant fact that they can spread at least 80 kinds of diseases. Based on all the above, these are some tips may help you to keep mosquitoes away:
•Taking a shower after sweating or at least wipe the area with tissue/towel.
•Wearing clothes with light colors such as white and beige.
•Spraying a mosquito repellent or wearing a bugslock.
•Covering your exposed skin with long sleeves, trousers or stockings.
•Avoiding drinking beer when you are outdoors.
•Staying away from bushes and woods, especially after sunset.