Why do mosquitoes bite me? 7 & 1 reasons you didn’t know!

Mosquitoes can be very annoying! Surely, everyone has heard their characteristic sound or felt an itch after a bite.

Especially in the summer months they are one of the most unwanted insects. There are over 3,500 different species in total, but only some of them bite humans! (1)

But how do they choose who to bite? How come some people attract mosquitoes and others don’t?

There are specific reasons, based on which they choose their next “victim”, and they are related to various causes. Studies, in fact, prove that 20% of people are more desirable to mosquitos than others. (2)

Why do mosquitoes bite me?

When mosquitoes are looking for the next person to bite, they look for the following characteristics (3):

• Carbon dioxide
• Body odor
• Body temperature

Below we have the most common reasons why mosquitoes might prefer to bite someone. (2,3)

1. Body weight

The heavier someone is, the more carbon dioxide he/she produce. This means that mosquitoes are more likely to recognize that person.

2. Body temperature

We know that mosquitoes use heat to identify a target more easily. So they choose people with a higher body temperature: Either this is due to an increased temperature due to environment heat, or because some people are hotter than others.

3. Sweat

The more you sweat, the more mosquitos are attracted to you! This may be due to sports activity or you might sweat excessively naturally. Mosquitoes can smell our sweat, and studies show that they are attracted to the lactic acid and ammonia found in it!

4. Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings important changes to women and one of them is that… mosquitoes like them more!

This is thought to be due to the fact that pregnant women exhale more carbon dioxide, but also because during pregnancy the body temperature rises.

5. Natural bacteria on the skin

Many argue that mosquitoes are attracted by a specific odor produced by our skin. This odor is produced by the bacteria that live naturally on our skin and is released when these bacteria metabolize specific ingredients.

Every person’s smell is different and the different mixes of bacteria on their skin contribute to this. One study showed that a lower bacterial diversity can make a person more attractive to mosquitoes than a higher bacterial diversity. (4)

6. Diet & beer consumption

Another factor that affects body odor is diet. Food affects our metabolic rate, which can increase body temperature. In fact, in some cases it may even cause sweating.

Studies (5) have shown that drinking beer can increase how attractive we are to mosquitoes. Another study showed similar results, with bananas. (6)

7. Blood type

Mosquitoes find some blood types more…attractive than others. Specific studies have shown that mosquitoes of the species Aedes albopictus (which have been identified in Greece since 2005) are more attracted to group O (7), while mosquitoes of the species Anopheles gambiae are more attracted to group AB.(8)

8. Color of clothes

Another paradox: Mosquitoes are attracted to certain colors, while they find others not interesting! More specifically, they use their eyes to target their next victim. Research shows that they are more attracted to black and green colors and less to white or gray.

So, if you want fewer bites, then you should prefer softer colors: for example, pastels, beige or white. (8)

Who is not bitten by mosquitoes?

Theoretically, we are all “at risk” from mosquito bites! But our reactions to stings may vary. This means that some people don’t experience itching or swelling from the bites, so they assume that mosquitoes don’t like them.

This is related to the type of bite and species of mosquito, our immune system, personality and behavior (e.g. whether we are irritable or not). (1)

Which mosquitoes bite us?

Often, in our everyday life, we say that when someone is bitten by mosquitoes a lot, they are sweet-blooded. Indeed, they look for something sweet when they need energy. But the ones that bite us are only the females, as human blood contains nutrients they need for their eggs. Of course, this doesn’t have to be sweet. (3)

In contrast, males consume nectar to survive and do not feed on human blood.(3)

How long do mosquitoes live?

Many times you might wonder… how long does a mosquito live?

Males only live for six to seven days on average. In contrast, females live an average of 5 months or more if they have an adequate food supply. Typically, their average lifespan is six weeks.(8)

How do mosquitoes go away?

First, if you want mosquito protection make sure you screen your home or business with screen doors. In addition, you should make sure that there is no standing water or tall grass and grass nearby.

Use an insect repellent of your choice so you can be safe! There are the following options to choose from: mosquito spray, wristband, stickers, sticks, patches and insect repellent wipes.(1) Of course, don’t forget to have an after bite near you, just in case!

Conclusion

It is a fact that mosquitoes choose to bite some people more than others. The exact causes are not completely known to scientists (9), but we know from relevant research that diet, body temperature, the smell of sweat, pregnancy and drinking beer affect how attractive mosquitoes find us.

Discover at Vita4you.gr the ideal mosquito repellent for you.