5 common mistakes that attract mosquitoes to you
Not considering your blood type
Some blood types are more attractive to mosquitoes than others — and unfortunately, this isn't something you can control. In a 2022
study
, researchers found that different mosquito species show distinct preferences:
Type O: Highly attractive to the Asian tiger mosquito (
Aedes albopictus
)
Type AB: A favorite of the marsh mosquito (
Anopheles gambiae
)
Even more
interesting
: around 80% of people naturally secrete a substance through their skin that reveals their blood type. If you're a "secretor," you're more likely to get bitten — regardless of your actual blood group.
Producing more carbon dioxide
Mosquitoes have a strong sense for carbon dioxide, and they can detect it from over 100 feet away. That's bad news if you breathe heavily, talk a lot outdoors, and sleep with your mouth open. Because CO₂ is exhaled through your nose and mouth, mosquitoes are often drawn to your head and face first. That constant buzzing near your ear? Not your imagination.
Letting sweat and skin bacteria build up
Mosquitoes don't just smell sweat; they analyze it. Your skin produces several chemical cues that they love- lactic acid and ammonia in sweat, bacteria that mix with sweat to form unique body odors, and carboxylic acids, or fatty acids, which one study found in higher concentrations in people most prone to bites.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You
Cash Roadster
Undo
Overlooking Factors Like Pregnancy and Alcohol
Certain conditions can amplify your mosquito appeal. One such is pregnancy. A 2000
study
in Africa found that pregnant women attracted twice as many mosquitoes as non-pregnant women. This was linked to increased carbon dioxide output and higher body temperature during late pregnancy. Another is beer. Even a single bottle can make a difference. In one study, participants who drank a liter of beer attracted significantly more mosquitoes than those who drank water.
The reason isn't fully understood, but it may be due to alcohol's effect on body chemistry and temperature.
Wearing the wrong clothes and eating the wrong foods
Clothing and diet also matter. Mosquitoes are visual hunters, and they're drawn more to dark colors like green and black than to lighter shades such as white or gray. As for food, while evidence is still emerging, one study from the University of Wisconsin found that eating bananas increased mosquito contact. Folk wisdom also points to salty, sweet, spicy, or potassium-rich foods as potential culprits, but the banana link is one of the few backed by research.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Friendship Day wishes
,
messages
and
quotes
!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Haryana health department involves transgender community in celebrating birth of girl child
1 2 Chandigarh: In a landmark move to combat gender bias and improve the sex ratio, Haryana's health department has launched an initiative involving the transgender community to celebrate female births across the state to normalise and elevate the status of girls in society by replicating a cultural tradition reserved typically for boys. Additional chief secretary (health) Sudhir Rajpal announced the initiative during a State Task Force meeting on Tuesday, part of the ongoing 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign. As part of the plan, transgender individuals will visit homes where a girl is born — just as they traditionally do to mark the birth of a boy — and present the family with a certificate for ₹21,000 invested under the 'Aapki Beti Hamari Beti' scheme. In return, they will receive an incentive of at least ₹1,100 from the govt. The district's chief medical officer (CMO) will supervise the campaign. The move comes amid a broader push to eliminate illegal abortions and tighten enforcement around sex-selective practices. Rajpal reported that Haryana's sex ratio improved from 899 to 907 between Jan and July this year compared to the same period in 2023. To sustain the momentum, health department has been directed to reverse-track all abortion and MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) cases beyond 12 weeks, especially when women already have daughters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Winter Charm Across Europe's Streets Portfolio Magazine Read More Undo In July alone, 32 FIRs were registered, resulting in as many arrests. Four additional FIRs are in process, and 38 notices have been issued to clinics and hospitals suspected of violations. The state also plans a crackdown on IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) centres allegedly involved in illegal sex determination. Rajpal ordered that all IVF implantations must now be registered under antenatal care (ANC) protocols to enable better surveillance. Police have been asked to work closely with the health department in tracking and shutting down illegal abortion centres, with Rajpal demanding a progress report on pending FIRs (first-information reports) within the week. Meanwhile, the women's and child development department prepares for an awareness screening campaign in cinemas to push the message of gender equality.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Who is Manjul Bhargava? The Indian-origin math genius nurtured by Harvard, mentored at Princeton
At first glance, Manjul Bhargava's story reads like that of many Indian-origin overachievers in the academic world. But look closer, and his journey reveals a rare blend of intellectual brilliance, deep cultural grounding, and boundary-breaking curiosity. From mastering high school mathematics by the age of 14 to winning the Fields Medal, the most prestigious prize in mathematics, Bhargava has followed an educational path that is both elite and deeply personal. A childhood steeped in math and music Born on August 8, 1974, in Hamilton, Ontario, to Indian parents, Bhargava grew up in Long Island, New York, where his mathematical talents became evident early. His mother, Mira Bhargava, a mathematics professor at Hofstra University, was his first teacher. She introduced him to mathematical ideas not just through textbooks, but through puzzles and patterns. By age 14, Bhargava had completed his school's full curriculum in math and computer science. But he wasn't just a numbers kid. He also studied tabla under masters like Zakir Hussain and learned Sanskrit poetry from his grandfather, Purushottam Lal Bhargava—experiences that shaped his uniquely creative and interdisciplinary way of thinking. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Harvard : Where talent met opportunity After graduating as valedictorian from Plainedge High School, Bhargava went on to Harvard University, where he earned his AB in mathematics in 1996. Harvard gave him not only academic rigor but also the freedom to explore advanced mathematical research as an undergraduate. His work during this time was already groundbreaking. He discovered new mathematical structures and submitted original research, earning him the 1996 Morgan Prize—the highest award for an undergraduate in mathematics in North America. Princeton: The place that shaped his research identity Bhargava pursued his PhD at Princeton University, where he studied under Sir Andrew Wiles, famed for solving Fermat's Last Theorem. This period proved transformational. His doctoral thesis, Higher Composition Laws , reimagined 200-year-old ideas from Gauss and offered powerful new tools in number theory. Bhargava's work during his PhD not only earned widespread academic acclaim but also set the foundation for a career filled with pioneering discoveries. Princeton recognized his brilliance early and appointed him a tenured full professor by age 29—an extraordinary milestone in academia. A career defined by curiosity and creativity Bhargava's post-doctoral years were marked by rapid-fire breakthroughs. He developed 14 new composition laws, offered new proofs of classical theorems like the 15 and 290 Theorems, introduced the Bhargava factorial, and co-authored proofs that advanced the understanding of elliptic curves—key to both pure mathematics and cryptography. In 2014, he received the Fields Medal for 'developing powerful new methods in the geometry of numbers.' The award confirmed what the math world had long known: Bhargava was not just a gifted problem-solver, but a thinker capable of reshaping entire domains. Bridging worlds: India, the West, and everything in between Although based at Princeton, Bhargava maintains strong ties with India. He holds adjunct appointments at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, IIT Bombay, and the University of Hyderabad. His work reflects a global perspective—rooted in Indian tradition, shaped by American education, and respected across continents. He served on the Padma Awards Committee in 2023, highlighting his growing role in shaping Indian scientific policy and recognition. What students can learn from Bhargava's path Manjul Bhargava's life is a lesson in how education is not just about prestige—it's about passion. From Harvard's lecture halls to Princeton's research labs, what carried him forward was not just intelligence, but the joy of exploration. He blended disciplines, embraced his heritage, and never lost his sense of wonder. For students in India and across the globe, Bhargava's path is an inspiring reminder: deep curiosity, nurtured by strong mentorship and an open mind, can lead not only to personal success but to discoveries that change the world. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Mosquitoes wreak havoc in China as authorities adopt COVID pandemic methods to tackle virus outbreak
In the southern Chinese city of Foshan, officials are engaged in an all-out battle against chikungunya , a painful, mosquito-borne viral disease that could spread across the country. Soldiers wearing masks are fogging parks and streets with insecticide. Drones have been deployed to identify mosquito breeding sites. Researchers have introduced giant " elephant mosquitoes ," whose larvae prey on the virus-carrying mosquitoes , and thousands of mosquito-eating fish have been released into city ponds. A virus transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes, chikungunya is rarely fatal, but it does cause fever and severe joint pain. It has infected about 8,000 people in China in four weeks, mostly in Foshan, and is the country's largest outbreak of its kind since the virus first emerged in the country in 2008. Experts say rising global temperatures have led to warmer and wetter weather there, allowing mosquitoes to thrive. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program To fight the outbreak, authorities are also drawing on a familiar playbook honed during the COVID pandemic -- mobilizing the city of 10 million in a "patriotic public health campaign." For some, that is evoking unhappy memories. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dog licks arent kisses. Heres what your dog really means when it licks you. Cleverst Undo At building entrances in the city, workers spray residents with mosquito repellent before allowing them in. Community workers in red vests go door to door, inspecting homes and ordering residents to dump any stagnant water. Those who don't cooperate could be fined or, in serious cases, face criminal charges for "obstructing the prevention of infectious diseases," according to an illustrated government explainer. At least five households have had their electricity cut for not cooperating, according to a notice issued by a neighborhood committee in the district of Guicheng. Live Events When COVID-19 spread in China, the country imposed some of the world's strictest measures -- the much-hated zero COVID policy that involved mass testing, citywide lockdowns, mandatory quarantines and the constant tracking of people's movements. On RedNote, a popular social media platform, residents say they are being ordered by community workers to empty all containers of water, including water bowls for their dogs. Some complained that the policing was excessive. In Foshan and other cities in Guangdong province, just north of Hong Kong, infected residents are being sent to "quarantine wards" where they stay behind mosquito nets and screens. Some who had been infected said they were given no choice but to go to the hospital at their own expense. (During an outbreak, mosquitoes can quickly spread the virus, picking it up from a sick person and infecting healthy others.) Carried by the Aedes mosquito, which also transmits dengue and Zika, the chikungunya virus was first detected in southern Tanzania in the 1950s. (Its name comes from the Kimakonde language and means "that which bends up," a reference to the contorted posture of those in pain.) After an imported case of chikungunya was detected in Foshan on July 8, infections quickly spread. Now, citizens have been urged to spend at least three minutes every morning cleaning out all sources of standing water. Employees at government agencies should not go home until they have thoroughly checked plant holders, tea trays, unfinished drinks and roof awnings for water. To breed, mosquitoes "don't actually need a lot of water or even a lake. They can spread and reproduce in even the smallest pool of water, like a Coke bottle cap," said Ren Chao, a professor at the University of Hong Kong researching the impact of climate change on the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in urban areas. The most extreme steps, such as mandatory quarantine for those infected, have not been implemented, but experts say China's pandemic measures are designed to be ratcheted up quickly if deemed necessary. FAQs Q1. What is the Chikungunya virus and how is it transmitted? A1: Chikungunya is a viral disease caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes, mainly the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species. These mosquitoes typically bite during the daytime, with peak activity in the early morning and late afternoon. The virus is not spread from person to person, but outbreaks can occur quickly in communities where the mosquito vectors are present. Chikungunya is most common in tropical and subtropical regions, but cases have also been reported in temperate areas due to increased global travel and climate change. Q2. What are the symptoms of Chikungunya and how is it treated? A2. The most common symptoms of Chikungunya virus infection appear 3–7 days after being bitten and include: Fever (often sudden and high), Severe joint pain, especially in hands, wrists, and ankles, Headache, Muscle pain, Fatigue, and Skin rash.
