Why Are Mosquitoes Attracted to Me?
WouterSeveral factors may attract mosquitoes. These include blood, sweat, body odor and activity levels. The best thing to do is avoid being bitten. If you do get bitten, use insect repellent. Using DEET with a concentration of at least 10 percent will help prevent bites for two hours.
Scientists have not pinned down all the factors that lead to the mosquito’s magnetism. However, recent research has shown that the color red and orange stand out to mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are highly visual hunters. They use smell, sight and even carbon dioxide to locate their targets. They can smell human breath from 164 feet away. In addition, they use the maxillary palp, or the area above the mouth, to detect carbon dioxide.
Some studies have shown that a certain blood type makes you less attractive to mosquitoes. Researchers also found that pregnant women are more likely to be bitten than non-pregnant people. There is some evidence that alcohol can increase mosquito attraction.
A study in Africa found that pregnant women are twice as likely to be bitten as non-pregnant people. The reason is that pregnant women have a heightened body temperature. They also exhale more carbon dioxide. Combined with the body odor a pregnant woman produces, these factors make her a natural target for mosquitoes.
A recent study showed that wearing red and orange clothing made it easier for mosquitoes to find you. There is some evidence that blue and green clothing could also be less appealing to these insects.
