Could you be a mosquito magnet? Unfortunately, yes!
You sit comfortably in your bed, cozy in your sheets, ready to fall asleep, when suddenly you hear a mosquito buzzing its wings near your ear. The show is on. You know a bite is coming. If you feel like these annoying insects bite you more than other people, you might be right. You’re a mosquito magnet.
According to studies, around 20% of people are irresistible to these pests. You might know from when you were a child that they bite people for their blood type, but that’s not all. Other reasons why they like you are due to your breathing, clothes, and even bacteria living on your skin.
Nobody likes being a mosquito magnet, and trust me when I tell you I understand your pain because I always attract these annoying insects. If you want to know why they’re drawn to you like moths to flame, keep reading!
1. Blood types
As we’ve already said at the beginning of this article, mosquitoes prefer particular blood types more than others. According to researchers, some species prefer type O (Asian tiger mosquito), while others prefer type AB (marsh mosquito).
Furthermore, around 80% of people secrete a substance that indicates their blood type, which sends a signal to the insect about what meal is served. However, regardless of blood type, some people might experience more mosquito bites than others.
…Did you know that only female mosquitoes bite humans because they need the protein in their blood to produce eggs? The only food that male mosquitoes can thrive on is nectar.
2. Body heat
If you’re the type of person who typically runs hot, you might be a mosquito magnet. These insects are drawn to heat and will fly to people even when there are other sources of heat available. You might notice that you get bites when you feel hot, when the weather’s boiling, or when you exercise outside.
3. Skin bacteria
Your skin is naturally home to microscopic life. When this bacteria is combined with sweat, it can produce a unique smell. According to several studies, your skin type and quantity of bacteria might influence how frequently you get mosquito bites.
Researchers wanted to know more about this, so they conducted a study in which they separated participants into two groups: those who were considered mosquito magnets and those who weren’t. The first group had bigger communities of microbes, but it wasn’t as diverse as those from the people who weren’t “attacked” by these insects.
The reason why your feet and ankles are always targets of these bites is because they’re areas where bacteria is more likely to grow. Moreover, people with noticeably higher levels of carboxylic acids on their skin are considered mosquito magnets. As experts say, those who are typically victims of these insects have extremely concentrated levels of these fatty acids on their skin.
4. Your diet
The saying “You are what you eat” couldn’t be more useful than that in this case. Your diet can make you a mosquito magnet, and that’s because salty, sweet, potassium-rich foods and spicy treats are thought to attract these annoying insects.
While researchers need to perform more studies to understand this situation better, scientists discovered that bananas can make you more appealing to mosquitoes. Even though this fruit is delicious and healthy, eating it can make you more susceptible to bug bites and insects.
5. Carbon dioxide
Did you know that mosquitoes sense carbon dioxide from a great distance? The more you exhale, the stronger of a mosquito magnet you become. Since people who carry more pounds exhale more, they’re probably targets more often.
You exhale carbon dioxide through your mouth and nose, attracting these annoying insects to your head. This is why you’ll suddenly hear their tiny wings beating and causing that high-pitched noise.
Here’s something interesting: these insects can see humans from a distance of 16 to 49 feet, so you can’t exactly avoid them.
6. They love sweat
Mosquitoes don’t only like the bacteria on your skin; they also love it when your body is sweaty. They like ammonia and lactic acid and can easily sniff out human sweat. If you spend time outside on a hot day or are a sweater in general, you can expect more bites to come.
7. You drink beer
Who would have thought that insects liked beer? In one study, researchers discovered that, compared to people who drank a liter of water, a considerably higher number of mosquitoes flew toward study participants who had consumed one liter of beer.
The cause of this growth is still a mystery, though. There was a clear relationship between alcohol intake and mosquito landings based on skin temperature or carbon dioxide exhalation. However, even if we don’t know exactly what the connection between these two things is, you can be certain that alcohol can make you a mosquito magnet.
8. Dark clothes
Mosquitoes seek out their prey with their eyes. According to research, they like black and green surfaces better than gray surfaces, and that’s because bold colors are easier to spot.
If you typically get bug bites, it might be because they can easily spot you. Choose softer colors, such as white, beige, and pastels, and see if it makes any difference.
9. Pregnancy
Unfortunately, pregnant women are mosquito magnets. While there aren’t enough studies to support this affirmation, an African study conducted in 2000 discovered that pregnant people attracted twice as many mosquitoes as non-pregnant ones.
Researchers think there are a few possible reasons why this can occur:
- Carbon dioxide: compared to non-pregnant women, women in late pregnancy exhale 21% more breath volume;
- Heat: the abdomens of pregnant women are typically one degree warmer than their non-pregnant peers.
How to get fewer mosquito bites
If you’re a mosquito magnet, I can understand how annoying it is to wake up with several itchy bites on your skin. While there are several remedies for keeping them at bay, such as mosquito nets, different zappers, and repellent (check out these DEET-free repellent bracelets, because they’re amazing), they’re not 100% effective.
However, there are a few things you can do to keep your skin bite-free. Besides being annoying and causing extreme itchiness in some people, mosquitos are capable of spreading diseases like the Zika virus.
Keep them out of your yard
These annoying insects lay their eggs in standing water. Get rid of items that collect rainwater, like old tires. If anything in your garden gathers rainwater during a storm, make sure to empty it ASAP.
Other than that, don’t forget to change the water in your bird baths and fountains at least once a week and give your gutters on the roof regular cleaning. If you need extra protection, check out this zapper, because it does a nice job.
Did you know that how you landscape your yard can also be a mosquito magnet? If you don’t want any annoying insects to fly above your space, keep your lawn clipped short and plan vegetation that keeps them at bay, such as marigold, catmint, basil, lavender, citronella grass (lemon grass), rosemary, mint, sage, and allium.
Use insect repellents
To make sure a product you get is effective and safe, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you take a look at the label for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval.
Moreover, the CDC also suggests looking for products that contain these ingredients: picaridin (KBR 3023), DEET, and IR3535. On the other hand, if you don’t want to use any of these chemicals, you can try essential oils like the oils of lemon eucalyptus and citronella.
Do you know any other way to keep mosquitoes at bay? Let us know in the comments below! If you enjoyed reading this article and you’d like to check out something else from Indulging Health, check this one out: 14 Telltale Signs of Low Blood Sugar
