Why Are Mosquitoes More Attracted to Some Than Others?

Lab studies show that 30% – 50% of people are attractors of mosquitoes.  Why are these people more attractors than others?  Here are five major reasons why:

1. Darker Colors – The first way that mosquitoes find you is via their sight.  If a person has a darker skin color or they are wearing colors such as navy blue, denim, black and red then he or she will stand out.  Especially, if it is later in the afternoon when mosquitoes’ sense of sight is at its best.
2. Higher CO2 Output – Mosquitoes will follow a trail of CO2 output in the air using their sense of smell.  If a person has a higher metabolism, is pregnant, weighs more or has a higher activity level then their CO2 output is greater than others.
3. Higher Heat Levels – Once a female mosquito has found you then she will be attracted to certain areas of your body depending upon which areas are hotter at the surface.  If there is greater heat given off by the skin, then the blood is more easily accessed by the mosquito.  This is why people are bit in the neck, head and hands other than the fact that these are usually the areas that the skin is exposed.  In addition, if a person is more active then their body heat is greater on the surface of their skin making them a more appealing target for mosquitoes.  Finally, the same person that is more active, will produce more lactic acid which is an additional attractant.
4. Cold Beer – Studies show that those individuals who are drinking beer are greater attractors of mosquitoes.  This is because they are breathing a little more than normal, thus producing more CO2 in their breath.
5. Your Individual Smell – The smell produced from your glands or released from tiny microbes, such as bacteria, on your skin is also a factor in mosquito attraction.  Different people produce different smells based on their genes. Some people’s smell can serve as an attractant while others can serve as a repellant.  Studies show that people who get fewer bites produce a smell that covers up or repels the smells that attract mosquitoes.

Researchers are now working to determine which genes attract mosquitoes to develop an effective repellant.  With 350 compounds isolated from odors produced from human skin that task can be quite a challenge.