The Real Reason Mosquitoes Can't Resist You
Summer's perfect for hanging out outside, whether you're grilling, hiking or just soaking up the sun. But all that time outdoors comes with one major downside: mosquitoes. If you're not careful, a relaxing evening can turn into a bite-covered nightmare.
Mosquito season kicks off as early as March and can stretch all the way into November, depending on where you live. While some people walk away with barely a bite, others seem to be mosquito magnets. So what makes certain folks more of a target? Science has a few answers.
There's actually a scientific reason why mosquitoes target certain people more than others. Here's why mosquitoes bite, and how you can make yourself less of a target this summer. For more, learn about how to safely remove a tick and how you can alter the colors of your hydrangeas.
Why do mosquitoes bite?
Contrary to what you might think, mosquitoes don't bite people for food; they feed on plant nectar. Only female mosquitoes bite, and they do so to receive proteins from your blood needed to develop their eggs.
Why are some people more prone to bites?
There are several factors that impact why some people are more prone to mosquito bites than others:
Blood type
A common belief is that mosquitoes are attracted to certain blood types, considering mosquitoes bite humans for their blood. Blood type is determined by genetics, and each blood type is created based on the different sets of specific proteins, called antigens, on the surface of red blood cells. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB and O.
While there are no firm conclusions as to which blood type is more attractive to mosquitoes, several studies have suggested people with type O are most appetizing to mosquitoes. A 2019 study observed mosquito feeding behavior when presented with different blood type samples, and found mosquitoes fed from the type O feeder more than any other. A 2004 study also found that mosquitoes land on blood group O secretors (83.3%) significantly more than group A secretors (46.5%).
However, these studies are not definitive, and much is still up in the air about mosquito preferences when it comes to blood type.
Clothing color
Mosquitoes are highly visual hunters when it comes to finding a human to bite. This means movement and dark clothing colors like black, navy and red can stand out to a mosquito. Research has shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to the color black, but there has been little additional research into why this is the case.
Carbon dioxide
Mosquitoes use sight and smell to find hosts to bite. One of the quickest ways mosquitoes can sniff out a person is through the carbon dioxide emitted when we breathe. According to research published in the journal Chemical Senses, mosquitoes use an organ called a maxillary palp for carbon dioxide detection and can sense it from 164 feet away.
Because carbon dioxide is a huge attractor, people who emit more of it -- larger individuals and people who are breathing heavily when working out -- are more attractive to a mosquito.
Body odor and sweat
Mosquitoes are attracted to more substances and compounds than just carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes can find people to bite by smelling substances present on human skin and in sweat, including lactic acid, uric acid and ammonia.
A new study found that mosquitoes are attracted to compounds called carboxylic acids that every human produces through sebum, a waxy coating, on their skin. The sebum is eaten by the millions of beneficial microorganisms found on human skin, which produces more carboxylic acid -- and will, in turn, produce an odor similar to cheese or smelly feet that appears to attract mosquitoes. Lead researchers on this study said mosquitoes are sensitive to human odor and that even perfumes or colognes can't mask it.
Researchers are still learning why certain body odors are more attractive to mosquitoes, but they do know that genetics, bacteria on the skin and exercise all play a factor. Genetics impact the amount of uric acid emitted, while exercise increases lactic acid buildup.
Beer
In a small study, mosquitoes were observed to land on participants more frequently after consuming a small amount of beer. But before you swear off outdoor brews, know that the study only had 14 participants, and it found that mosquitoes may only be marginally more attracted to people who have been drinking beer.
The size and severity of a bite relate to how your immune system responds to the saliva introduced by the mosquito when it bites.
Suriyawut Suriya/EyeEm/Getty Images
Why do some people swell from mosquito bites more than others?
Mosquito bites can range in size from small little spots to large welts. Why is this the case?
Bites affect people differently. The size and severity of a bite relate to how your immune system responds to the saliva introduced by the mosquito when it bites. When mosquitoes bite, they inject some saliva when drawing blood. This saliva contains certain anticoagulants and proteins, triggering the immune system to respond to these foreign substances.
Our body responds by releasing histamine -- a chemical released by white blood cells when your immune system is fighting allergens -- which causes the itchiness and inflammation of the bite.
How to prevent mosquito bites
The best way to handle a mosquito bite is to not get them in the first place -- but oftentimes, that's easier said than done.
Some common ways to prevent mosquito bites include:
Use repellents and bug sprays
Use natural repellants (citronella essential oil
Avoid going outside at dawn or dusk
Avoid dark-colored clothing, specifically black
Avoid standing water and try to eliminate standing water near your home
Use mosquito netting when camping or sleeping outdoors
Wear long sleeves and pants
Prevent mosquito bites when traveling internationally
If you're using DEET insect repellent, make sure to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines (PDF) about the strength and proper application.
Repellants are highly effective in preventing mosquito bites.
Amanda Capritto/CNET
How to treat mosquito bites
Mosquito bites, while annoying, are often not severe and will resolve in a few days. In the meantime, there are several treatments to alleviate the itchiness and inflammation:
Clean with rubbing alcohol if a fresh bite
Take an oatmeal bath
Use over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl or Claritin
Apply mild corticosteroid creams
Use aloe vera to reduce inflammation
Try a cold compress or ice pack for 10 minutes
Though difficult, try as best you can to not itch the bite too roughly to prevent any sort of skin reaction or infection.
Mosquito-borne diseases and illnesses
While the majority of mosquito bites result in welts that heal in a few days, mosquitoes are known carriers of many deadly diseases and illnesses, including but not limited to:
Mosquitoes are often considered one of the deadliest animals on earth. Mosquito-borne diseases kill more than 725,000 people a year the World Health Organization estimates, with malaria accounting for the vast majority of deaths (600,000).
While malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases hit Sub-Saharan Africa the hardest, mosquitoes pose a risk to every continent and nation. Most types of mosquitoes in the US are nuisance mosquitoes -- mosquitoes that do not spread germs that make people sick -- but there have been outbreaks of West Nile, dengue, chikungunya and Zika in a few states and territories.
There are several steps you can take to control mosquito populations and minimize risk. Make sure to properly cover and store water containers around your home and drain any standing water to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. For treatments, you can use an outdoor adulticide to kill adult mosquitoes or larvicides to treat bodies of standing water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be drained.
Infected bites will often look extremely red, swollen and warm or have a red streak that spreads outward from the bite. See a health care provider if you have signs of infection or if symptoms worsen.
For more, read about the five smart ways to repel mosquitoes this summer, the mosquito forecast tool launched by Google and Off, and how you can make your own DIY traps for mosquitoes, hornets and other flying pests.
More tips for your yard and garden
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Associated Press
New online tool helps women on Medicaid find prenatal care and family planning
At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, one researcher's full-time job for the past nine months has been to find out which clinics around the state offer different kinds of women's health care, and whether they accept various forms of Medicaid. The final result is a recently launched database aimed at helping women locate the nearest clinic that can offer the care they need. The work that went into creating it highlights a pervasive problem: Even making an appointment can be a barrier that keeps women from improving their lives. 'We Need to Talk' is a compilation of all Mississippi clinics offering prenatal care – specifying which ones also offer family planning, and whether they take Medicaid insurance, Medicaid waivers and see women whose Medicaid applications are pending. There is also a hotline designed to give additional support to anyone having questions or feeling overwhelmed about the process. 'Having gone through the work, it was remarkable. It wasn't easy to figure out where you should go for care,' said Dr. Thomas Dobbs, former state health officer and dean of the John D. Bower School of Population Health at UMMC, who oversaw the project. 'And that should be one of the most basic bits of information we have.' The idea was born from the recent 900% increase in babies born with syphilis, Dobbs explained, which he called a 'canary in a coal mine' signaling more danger to come. An investigation into the epidemic showed that one of the driving factors was delayed prenatal care, caused in large part by inaccessible information and concerns about cost, Dobbs said. Finding reproductive and prenatal care can be difficult for several reasons. For one thing, there are many different kinds of clinics in Mississippi, making it hard for patients to know what to search for. The list includes federally qualified health centers, county health department clinics and private OB-GYNs. Another reason is that many clinics don't specify online whether they take Medicaid, much less what their policy is on specific or temporary Medicaid coverage. Calling doesn't always guarantee patients a comprehensive or accurate answer. The new database is an initiative of UMMC's Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute – housed in the Jackson Medical Mall – which is committed to eliminating health disparities by studying the intersection of health and social issues. The institute has a clinic on site that practices what's called 'social medicine,' a key element of eliminating those disparities, the institute's executive director Victoria Gholar explained. 'If you have a patient who has asthma and they're living in a situation where mold is in their environment, it will really be hard for them to get better,' Gholar said. 'Or, if we have a patient who has to use an electronic (medical) device, and their electricity is no longer available because they weren't able to take care of their utility bill, then we try to work with them and connect them to resources that might be able to help.' The institute employs a wide range of professionals who work on health from a non-clinical standpoint, such as researchers, community engagers, social workers and registered dietitians. It hosts events like food drives and offers free support from budgeting strategies to meal preparation for those with conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Aside from knowing what to search for, finding clinics that accept Medicaid can also be complicated because Mississippi Medicaid eligibility is constantly changing for a woman based on her age and circumstance – what kinds of services she's seeking, as well as whether she's pregnant. Medicaid eligibility in Mississippi is among the strictest in the nation, with one exception – pregnant women. That means many low-income women only become eligible for Medicaid once pregnant. And since an application can take up to eight weeks to be processed, the chances that a woman in this situation will be able to use her newly acquired Medicaid insurance in the first trimester are slim. A law that would cut out this interim period and allow low-income pregnant women to be immediately seen by a doctor passed the Legislature in 2024, but was never implemented because of legislative errors. The policy went back through the Legislature in 2025, passed overwhelmingly again, but is not yet in effect. Some doctors already see women whose Medicaid application is pending, and the UMMC tool specifies at which clinics that's the case. Women of reproductive age seeking reproductive health care are also eligible for leniency in the typical Medicaid stipulations. These women can apply for a Medicaid family planning waiver, which allows them to access Medicaid for family planning purposes, even if they don't qualify for general Medicaid coverage. The income requirement for pregnancy Medicaid and the family planning waiver is a household income of less than 194% of the federal poverty level, or about $2,500 a month for one person in 2025. Dobbs, who has been the main point person on the project, said he hopes the online database is one more resource improving health care accessibility and women's health metrics in Mississippi. 'This isn't about getting patients to UMMC at all,' Dobbs said. 'It's about empowering patients to be able to get the care they need where they live.' ___ This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
Gizmodo
26 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
‘Star Wars: Starfighter' Adds ‘Frankenstein' Star Mia Goth
As much as we'd love to see a Star Wars movie that just stars Ryan Gosling, Star Wars: Starfighter was never going to be that. He needs co-stars, aliens, droids, and now the very first of those may have come into view. The InSneider reports, and io9 has confirmed, that Mia Goth, the actress best known for her roles in Pearl, X, and MaXXXine, who'll soon appear Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, has been cast in the film. No word on what the role is, but reporter Jeff Sneider writes it is the same one Anora-star and Oscar-winner Mikey Madison was circling before moving along. This story is developing…
Medscape
30 minutes ago
- Medscape
A PCP Guide to Emerging Therapies for Resistant Hypertension
This transcript has been edited for clarity. Matthew F. Watto, MD: Welcome back to The Curbsiders . I'm Dr Matthew Frank Watto, here with my great friend and America's primary care physician, Dr Paul Nelson Williams. Paul, this is a topic you know a ton about, isn't it? Paul N. Williams, MD: It's one I always have questions about; I think this is our 37th episode on high blood pressure, if I'm not mistaken. Watto: The audience can't get enough of it — turns out, neither can I. Williams: Me neither! Watto: I love talking about high blood pressure, and this was with a great guest, Dr Jordy Cohen. She's a hypertension expert and a nephrologist. Paul, to start us off, what are we doing with blood pressure cuffs these days? Those manual ones on the wall, those are the way to go, right? Williams: This is a scenario we talk about all the time, and we've beat this drum a lot in prior episodes. I think we've all experienced a patient whose initial triage blood pressure reading is elevated, and either you or the patient will ask for a recheck and you're tempted to use a blood pressure cuff that's been hanging on the wall, has not been calibrated in 17 years, has a decaying spiral cord, and looks like it would fall apart if you touched it. Turns out that's probably not the best way to do it, Matt. So, to reiterate: Automated cuffs are the preferred option. They are more accurate. In this episode with Dr Cohen, we talked about making sure we use the appropriate cuff size and when we have patients who have large arms, you may have to use a wrist measurement every so often. In these circumstances, positioning matters: feet flat, back supported, elbow resting on a table, and have two fingers on the opposite clavicle so that everything is at heart level. If you're taking the blood pressure reading using a cuff around the arm itself, again, you should make sure the patient's arm is resting on a tabletop, bedside, or even on your own arm to ensure it's at heart level. You also shouldn't talk with the patient during that process so you can give them every chance to have an accurate blood pressure reading. That's the first thing: Get an accurate reading. Then everything else follows that step, as you should only treat a diagnosis that you've appropriately made. Watto: All the goals are based on a properly taken blood pressure, so if your patient's blood pressure hasn't been appropriately measured, you might overtreat or undertreat someone. For most patients who are nonfrail, we're now shooting for a blood pressure that is below 130/80 mm Hg. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines for patients with chronic kidney disease state that normal blood pressure should be below 120/80, which is very hard to do. If we're getting people with a systolic in the 120s, that's probably about as good as we're going to get. For treatment, Dr Cohen and I have adopted this practice of using combination pills for hypertension management — either a calcium-channel blocker with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). I usually prefer a calcium-channel blocker with an ARB or the 'triple pill,' a single-pill combination of a calcium-channel blocker, an ARB, and a diuretic. That's what I go to now as my first-line agent. I'm using a lot of either low-dose or medium-dose combination therapy. I don't usually go to the highest dose unless I'm in a situation where I have to decide between starting a fourth medication or going to a higher dose. That's really been a practice change for me. Dr Cohen reiterated that point and emphasized that it's easiest for the patient and they usually experience fewer side effects when you choose a low-to-moderate dose in comparison to a high dose. Williams: It's a point that we've made in prior episodes, as well. As you start to max out the doses of these medications, you get diminishing returns in terms of their efficacy in lowering blood pressure efficacy and patients can start to experience increased side effects. It's a far better option to start with a kind of median dose as opposed to really trying to crank up the dose, because you just don't get that much more benefit with that approach. Watto: We're going to discuss some of the newer blood pressure–lowering agents. Paul, the first one I want to ask you about is not quite a blood pressure medication, but it does lower blood pressure. Which medication am I talking about here? Williams: I think you're probably referring to semaglutide, Matt. I think we all have a fair amount of comfort with these diabetes and weight loss medications. These are remarkable medications and the indications keep piling on, which is great. Semaglutide, in particular, is not approved for hypertension, but it does lower blood pressure, likely as a result of the weight loss that is achieved with the medication. So, it's not technically an antihypertensive, but it provides a great blood pressure benefit. I think there's also some 'fancy pants' medications coming down the pipeline that we should probably be aware of, right? Watto: Yes, and the first one I'll mention is endothelin receptor antagonists. As a generalist, you're probably not going to be prescribing these; they will probably be prescribed by a hypertension specialist. Compared with placebo, they have a modest effect in lowering blood pressure (~4 mm Hg), but they are officially approved, so they're out there. What's more exciting, Paul, are aldosterone synthase inhibitors. The generic names for these include baxdrostat and lorundrostat. They're not yet approved, but I believe they are in phase 2 or phase 3 trials, depending on the indications. They seem promising, as they have a much stronger effect on blood pressure (~10-15 mm Hg) compared with placebo. Dr Cohen thinks these medications are probably going to be in the primary care wheelhouse soon. Cost will probably an issue with these medications at the start, but otherwise, these are pills that are taken once a day and they don't have the antiandrogen side effects that you can get with the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), like spironolactone. Dr Cohen was really excited about being able to prescribe these at some point. Williams: And the MRAs are traditionally a fourth-line medication (unless you have compelling indications), so to have something else in your armamentarium that has less side effects is super exciting. It'll be great to see these in the pipeline. Watto: Now, what would you say, Paul, if I told you there was a medication for blood pressure that is only administered once every 6 months and will shut down the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)? How does that sound? Williams: As someone who's taken medical school physiology, it sounds lightly terrifying! It feels like you do need the RAAS for some things, but I think for patients that are less interested in taking medications — which turns out to be most patients — it could potentially be exciting. I think as long as we have a way to reverse the effects of this medication if needed, then I think there's potential for excitement around this medication. Watto: I'm of course talking about a small interfering RNA (siRNA) agent. The one we talked about in this episode was zilebesiran; it's an siRNA agent and is administered once every 6 months. But no one would feel comfortable giving this unless there's an antidote, because if a patient gets septic, they probably need their RAAS to help them out there. Williams: Or if you have a patient who is pregnant — lots of reasons why you might actually want that system working. Watto: Exactly. Now, some people just don't want to take medications even if they need them, Paul. What else might be offered to a patient with high blood pressure? And how excited should we be about this next therapy? Williams: I feel like you're asking the wrong guy, Matt! I think you're alluding to renal denervation therapy. I feel it had a lot of wild enthusiasm initially, then it kind of waned, and now I feel like enthusiasm is back, baby — we're back into renal denervation. It sounds like a great option and I think we're doing a little better job with it, but its effect on lowering blood pressure is about equivalent to the effect you observe with a single-agent medication. So, realistically, these patients may still need to be on medications for blood pressure control. It's only effective for about two thirds of patients who get the procedure; that's 33% of your patients who would go through this invasive procedure where we're frying a nerve and in the end, they may not actually experience any blood pressure benefit. I think there's still a population that would benefit from and be interested in this option, but I don't think it's something that we should consider as first-line therapy for the majority of folks because of that potential for treatment failure and the continued need for medications among a substantial portion of the patients who undergo this procedure. It's still exciting that there's evidence for it and it does cause significant blood pressure lowering, so it's nice to have another option. Watto: Yeah, and I think patients are going be coming in and asking about it, so having some knowledge about the pros and cons of the procedure is important.
