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You’re delicious -

Everyone has food preferences, and mosquitoes are no different. Some people are simply more delicious to mosquitoes than others.

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You’re delicious -

An estimated 20% of the human population is highly attractive to mosquitoes.

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They love your sweat - Apparently the more you sweat, the more attractive you become to mosquitoes. A cocktail of lactic acid, uric acid, and ammonia can make you irresistible.

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Lactic acid -

Mosquitoes are most attracted to lactic acid. They actually have receptors in their antennas that allow them to detect the scent of lactic acid.

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Bacteria -

The bacteria on your skin might be irresistible to mosquitoes. Your skin flora—the microorganisms that live on your skin—can be really yummy to these insects.

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Bacteria - In fact, a study has found that skin microbiota can determine how delicious you are to malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

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DNA - But what determines the difference in the chemicals your body produces that attract mosquitoes? Your genes.

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DNA - Yes, you can inherit some really tasty genes... for mosquitoes, that is.

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Carbon dioxide -

How much carbon dioxide you emit can affect your attractiveness to mosquitoes, and yes, they are able to detect it.

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Carbon dioxide - How do they do this? Well, they have a sort of natural CO2 radar, that will guide them to the closest buffet.

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High body temperature - When your body temperature is higher, for instance after you exercise or during a hot day, mosquitoes are more likely to love you. 

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High body temperature -

This is because when you’re running hot, your blood will be closer to the surface of your skin. This will mean an easy blood feast for mosquitoes!

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Blood type -

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about this one. Mosquitoes are more attracted to a particular blood type.

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Blood type -

A study suggests that mosquitoes favor people with type O blood, as compared to other blood groups.

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Beer -

This is yet another reason why mosquitoes love barbecues. Apparently, when you drink beer, you become more attractive to mosquitoes.

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Beer - According to a study, drinking just one beer (350 ml) might be enough to make you irresistible to these bloodsucking creatures.

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Pregnant women - While male mosquitoes are vegetarians, female mosquitoes go hunting for blood to get a protein they need to make their eggs. So, mommies-to-be kind of help female mosquitoes to produce eggs.

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Pregnant women - Not only do pregnant women have higher body temperatures, they also emit more carbon dioxide, making them more susceptible to being bitten.

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Pregnant women -

In fact, according to a study, pregnant women are twice as likely to be bitten as compared to non-pregnant women.

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Fashion - Mosquitoes can detect dark colors much better. These colors combined with movement make you an easy target. So black, navy, red, and other bold colors can work against you.

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Fashion - On the other hand, white, beige, and khaki might offer a certain degree of camouflage.

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Fashion - Reportedly, in 2010, women in Thailand were discouraged from wearing black leggings because of the risk of contracting dengue fever from mosquito bites.

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Just use repellent? -

Despite the unpleasant smell, using repellent sounds like a safe bet, right? Well, kind of. There's a bit of a problem with using repellent.

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Just use repellent? - Mosquitoes are a bit like bacteria and they can easily develop a resistance to DEET (the most common repellent), and this can happen in a matter of hours!

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Diet - You might have heard that garlic can work as an insect repellent. Well, this is a myth.

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Diet - The same goes for the use of vitamin B12 as a natural repellent for mosquitoes.

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Allergic reaction -

Some people really do suffer when they’re bitten by mosquitoes. But this doesn’t necessarily mean these people are more prone to being bitten. It’s just that they’re more sensitive to the bites. When a mosquito bites you, your body has an allergic reaction and produces histamine, causing hives and itchiness. Some people just release more histamine than others.

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What can I do? - As you can see, there’s only so much you can do to prevent mosquito bites. Basically choose the right clothes, apply some repellent, don’t drink beer, keep cool, and don’t sweat. It does sound like a boring summer though.

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See also - World Mosquito Day is coming up. Find out why we celebrate it!

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