You are trying to enjoy a braai in the evening, but a swarm of mosquitoes follows you from the braai stand to the pool. As you swat madly at the pests, you notice that others seem completely unfazed. Could it be that mosquitoes prefer to bite some people over others?
According to WebMD, the answer is yes.
Mosquitoes exhibit blood-sucking preferences, say the experts. Female mosquitoes – males do not bite people – need human blood to develop fertile eggs.
Scientists know that genetics account for 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites. They’ve also identified certain elements of our body chemistry that, when found in excess on the skin’s surface, make mosquitoes swarm closer.
Mosquitoes also target people who produce excess amounts of certain acids, such as uric acid. These substances can trigger mosquitoes’ sense of smell, luring them to land on unsuspecting victims.
But the process of attraction begins long before the landing. Mosquitoes can smell their dinner from an impressive distance of up to 50 meters. This doesn’t bode well for people who emit large quantities of carbon dioxide.
Pregnant women are also at increased risk, as they produce a greater-than-normal amount of exhaled carbon dioxide. Movement and heat also attract mosquitoes.
So if you want to avoid an onslaught of mosquito bites at your next outdoor gathering, stake out a chaise lounge rather than a spot on the volleyball team. As you run around the volleyball court, the mosquitoes sense your movement and head toward you. When you pant from exertion, the smell of carbon dioxide from your heavy breathing draws them closer. So does the lactic acid from your sweat glands.
Read more on WebMD
