6 things that make you more attractive to mosquitoes
The pesky mosquito – is there anything more annoying at a BBQ? For many of us, the answer is “no”, but for others, mozzies don’t seem to be an issue at all – but why? Why do mozzies favour come people over others? It may be because of these six things about you which they simply can’t get enough of.
1. You exhale a lot of carbon dioxide
Larger people (and pregnant women) produce more carbon dioxide. Incredibly, this makes them more attractive to mozzies and thus more likely to be bitten. If that’s not incentive to lose some weight, we don’t know what is!
2. You’re hot
No, really, you are! A 2015 study found that having a high body temperature increases the likelihood of being bitten by mosquitoes. Again, this only makes it harder for overweight people, who as a rule have a higher body temperature. Our advice? Stay cool!
3. You have type O blood
It’s not just the blood bank that wants your type O. In 2004, researchers discovered that people with type O blood had a significantly higher chance of being bitten by mozzies than those with type A. But take this one with a grain of salt – the study’s sample size was small and it hasn’t been repeated since.
4. The bacteria on your skin make you smell good
Well, they make you smell good to the mozzies – not necessarily to the person sitting next to you. Researchers found that the microbes that live on the skin produce certain chemicals which make you smell more attractive to those flying pests.
5. You’ve just exercised
While being overweight makes you more susceptible to mozzie bites, so does exercise. Not only does it raise your body temperature (see above), but it also increases lactic acid production, which is secreted through the skin, attracting mosquitoes.
6. You’re a beer drinker
It might be time to switch to soft drink – that cold brew isn’t doing you any favours. In 2002, Japanese scientists found that even one glass of an alcoholic beverage (beer in particular) makes you more attractive to mozzies, but no one is quite sure why this is.
So, if you’re an overweight, exercise-loving, germy, beer-drinking person with type O blood, you should probably invest in some high-strength insect repellent!