Do Mosquitoes Bite More If You Eat Sugar?
WouterChanging your diet could make you less attractive to mosquitoes. The sweet and salty foods that you eat can affect your body’s microbiome, and the mosquitoes that feed on you.
A new study from the University of Washington has found that eating sugar can reduce the bites of mosquitoes. The researchers fed sugar to young female mosquitoes, and watched for bites. The results showed that the mosquitoes tended to bite less for up to five or six days after they had eaten the sugar solution. This is because the sugar increased the expression of a gene called Vg-2. This gene is important for the development of the ovary in female mosquitoes.
The Vg-2 gene also helps mosquitoes develop their eggs. This means that sugar can help to reduce mosquitoes’ appetites for human blood, which can decrease the chances of transmitting malaria and other diseases.
Another study found that drinking alcohol can make you more attractive to mosquitoes. The researchers theorized that alcohol might increase the presence of VOCs in your body. VOCs are chemical compounds that attract mosquitoes, including carbon dioxide and moisture.
Some studies have also found that bananas can help to keep mosquitoes away. However, it is not clear if this is true.
One study showed that people who were dressed in orange or red clothing had fewer bites than people who were dressed in green or blue. These colors are lighter and thus attract less mosquito attention. However, the study does not provide enough data to recommend any changes in behavior.
