Do Mosquitoes Like Some People More Than Others?

Every summer, mosquitoes make their triumphant — albeit uninvited — return to our backyards and lake days. The itchy red bites they give us are common souvenirs of any day spent outside, and these only come from female mosquitoes. They seek out blood meals once they reach the adult stage, as they need protein for their egg production. Mosquitoes are one of the most unexpectedly dangerous pests because they can potentially transmit dangerous pathogens that lead to mosquito-borne diseases. The general conclusion behind how mosquitoes find their hosts is that they are drawn to mammals with higher metabolic rates, which is more evident when the mammal is moving or exercising. 

That being said, the distribution of mosquito bites among people is not even at all. Some people rarely get bitten (aka the lucky group), while others cannot spend a warm day outside without gaining at least a couple of mosquito bites by the end of it. This observation has led many people to ask the burning question: do mosquitoes bite some people more than others? As with many pest-centric questions, there isn’t one solid answer across the board. However, there are many factors that heavily influence mosquitoes to choose certain people over others, according to multiple scientific studies. Let’s explore some of the potentially most influential qualities in the mosquito’s decision-making process (assuming their insect brains have that) and why you may be a mosquito magnet without even knowing it.

Blood Type

This is potentially the most prevalent theory in this topic, but the accuracy of it is still pretty unclear. Some people believe that mosquitoes have a preference for certain blood types over others, and will therefore gravitate towards those people more often. Certain species have been used in examples of evidence of this theory. Asian tiger mosquitoes seem to prefer type O blood, while marsh mosquitoes tend to feed from those with type AB blood. Type O is generally thought of as the mosquito’s favorite type, but this theory is not solidified with enough clear evidence to uphold it as fact. While the science behind this theory is contradictory, it is true that mosquitoes can detect our blood type — for the most part. According to recent studies, about 80% of people secrete a chemical that alerts mosquitoes to their blood type. It is not something that humans can detect, hence why we still need to find out our own blood type through lab work. So, while we can’t conclude that mosquitoes prefer one blood type over the others, it is reasonable to believe that it does contribute a little to their decision making. Maybe one day there will be enough evidence to sustain this, but not today. However, there are other qualities that are consistently important to bloodsucking mosquitoes.

Body Heat

If there is one thing we know about mosquitoes, it’s that they love the heat. Most insects do because they’re cold-blooded, so their energy levels are completely determined by the temperature and weather. But mosquitoes in particular enjoy the heat and humidity, which also translates to their choice of host. They can detect body heat — thanks to their limited infrared vision — and water vapor. Mosquitoes tend to prefer mammals with consistent body temperatures rather than animals that can make parts of their bodies warmer than others. Our body temperatures rise with any kind of lasting movement, whether it’s a walk around the block or a fitness class at the gym. This is exactly why we are bitten by mosquitoes when we are moving around rather than staying stagnant. Summer evenings often encourage us to do some kind of physical activity outdoors, and hungry mosquitoes are just waiting for their opportunity to consume the blood of people going for a walk or playing a game on the beach of a lake. In certain regions, the simple act of sitting outside can leave us overheated and sweaty in the summer. This is also appealing to mosquitoes, especially because an idle mammal is a much easier target than one in motion. The higher our body heat, the more likely we are to be sought out by mosquitoes. If you know you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside, we recommend applying some bug spray before you start to heat up and sweat.

Carbon Dioxide

Our carbon dioxide output is possibly the largest factor that mosquitoes use to find their next host. At the very least, it’s their first clue that a hot-blooded mammal is nearby. Mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide up to 50 feet away, and they will fly towards anything that is emitting more of it than anything else in their environment. That’s right: these tiny bloodsuckers are so observant that they immediately take notice of a mammal emitting more carbon dioxide in the immediate vicinity. Different mosquito species have various preferences of carbon dioxide output. However, across the board, mosquitoes will generally go towards someone who is breathing more heavily or at a higher rate over someone who is breathing normally. This includes people who are exercising or using a lot of breath to yell, like at a sporting event or a concert. Mosquitoes will follow the carbon dioxide trail straight to the source, then decide whether or not the person will provide a sufficient blood meal for the pest.

Sweat

Speaking of physical movement, our sweat is another huge attractant of mosquitoes. There are a few reasons for this that have actually been determined by scientific studies. One main reason is that mosquitoes love the compounds within our sweat and are immediately drawn to any exposed skin that has sweat. The ammonia and lactic acid in sweat are the two components that mosquitoes love, so they will follow their noses (or the mosquito equivalent of a nose) to these compounds and then make a meal out of our blood. Another reason why mosquitoes love sweat is because it is linked to bacteria growth. This kind of natural bacteria, aka microbes, attract mosquitoes through the distinct odors they emit. Our ankles and feet seem to produce the most bacteria growth (gross!), which is why mosquitoes usually bite us there if the skin is exposed. A person’s genetic makeup comes into play here, as some humans just seem to be born with the exact potential for natural scents and microbes that attract mosquitoes. We cannot change our microbiomes, and these can unfortunately mean the difference between being lifelong mosquito bait and not having to worry about mosquito bites every summer. Sweating in the summer is inevitable, and since summer coincides with peak mosquito season, it is an ill-fated reason for mosquitoes to relentlessly bite us.

Dark Clothing

Although this factor is not as clearly factual as the past few, it continues to be a major trend every summer. Mosquitoes rely on their scent receptors and infrared vision when seeking a host, but they also use their regular eyesight when they cannot find anyone with those other abilities. These pests are most active at dusk and dawn, which is when it is the most helpful for people to wear colors that contrast the sun’s shifting rays beaming down onto the earth. In general, dark-colored clothing appeals to mosquitoes the most because it makes our bodies stand out from our surroundings. Black-colored clothing is the most obvious attractant in this case. However, it has been observed that mosquitoes also prefer darker shades of orange, red, green, and blue. This is not an exact science, so don’t run to your closet and hide your dark-colored clothing just yet! It is just something to keep in mind if you are going to be spending a lot of time out in nature, like on a hike or a picnic. Also, just because you are dressed head-to-toe in light-colored clothing does not mean that you are immune to mosquito bites. These bloodsuckers have minds of their own, so they can bite any mammal they choose.

The Theorized Factors

This section is a bit different than the others. While all of these are theories and observations rather than set-in-stone scientific facts, the factors that we’ll talk about here are even more unclear than those. Are these trends that professionals have observed in studying the phenomenon of mosquito bites? Absolutely. Should they be taken as fact without any questions? Well, maybe not. 

These are four factors that could potentially motivate mosquitoes to bite certain people, but do with these thoughts what you will:

• Pregnancy: Some people believe that pregnant women are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes than non-pregnant people. The two main reasons for this are ones we discussed earlier: a higher output of carbon dioxide and a generally higher body temperature. 
• Previous Meals: Just like humans, mosquitoes can apparently remember previous meals they had that were so delicious, they just have to have it again. This theory states that mosquitoes choose to bite certain people who they personally bit before and liked a lot.
• Alcohol: Many people (of legal age) like to enjoy a cold adult beverage on a hot day, but this can technically attract mosquitoes to your exact location. When we consume alcohol, the ethanol content in our sweat is obvious to mosquitoes. It also raises our body temperature, which will only attract mosquitoes even more.
• Easy Skin Access: This one is simple and the easiest to prove, so it’s safe to say that this is one to keep in mind as you go outside this summer. Any exposed skin, especially combined with the other factors, will automatically be more attractive to mosquitoes. They cannot pierce our skin through thick clothing, so our arms, legs, necks, and other accessible points will be the immediate targets of the bloodsuckers. 

Like we said, these are theories with some observations to back them up, but they are not completely factual. Whether you leave any summer gathering with a plethora of mosquito bites or you never feel the itch of their bites, it is always important to stay protected against bloodsucking pests like mosquitoes — and that can require professional assistance.

Green Provides Annual Mosquito Protection

Bug spray and citronella candles may work against a couple of stray mosquitoes, but they are no match for a full-scale mosquito infestation. If mosquitoes found enough still freshwater in your backyard to place their eggs within — like in a pond, drenched tarps, puddles, full plant drainage trays, etc. — they will never leave and your mosquito issues will only worsen. When you want reliable pest treatments, Green Pest Services is here to help! Our mosquito services are available from April through October in order to control the mosquito populations during the warmer months when these pests are the most active. Our highly-trained technicians begin every service with a complete inspection of the property to search for the areas with the most mosquito activity. We then use these findings to create a treatment plan customized to solve your specific mosquito issues. All of our treatments are completely safe for people and pets, so you never have to worry about toxic chemicals contaminating your home and yard. We are dedicated to protecting your home and family from these dangerous bloodsuckers, so contact us today to schedule your initial service with our experienced team!

Citations

Breyer, M. (2023, May 16). 9 reasons mosquitoes bite some people more than others. VeryWell Health. Available at https://www.verywellhealth.com/reason-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more-others-4858811 (Accessed on August 8, 2023).

Giordano, C. (Dr.). (2022, November 18). 7 reasons you’re a mosquito magnet. GoodRx Health. Available at https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/environmental/why-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more (Accessed on August 8, 2023).

Leonard, D. (2022, October 18). Some people really are mosquito magnets, and they’re stuck that way. Scientific American. Available at https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/some-people-really-are-mosquito-magnets-and-theyre-stuck-that-way/ (Accessed on August 8, 2023).

Seladi-Schulman, J. (Dr.). (2019, October 8). Why are mosquitoes attracted to some people more than others?. Healthline. Available at https://www.healthline.com/health/why-do-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more (Accessed on August 8, 2023).

Stromberg, J. (2013, July 12). Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?. Smithsonian Magazine. Available at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-do-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more-than-others-10255934/ (Accessed on August 8, 2023).

Why are some people tastier to mosquitoes than others?. (2023, April 19). Pfizer. Retrieved August 8, 2023, from https://www.pfizer.com/news/articles/why_are_some_people_tastier_to_mosquitoes_than_others