Are You a Mosquito Magnet?

Are You a Mosquito Magnet?
Experts try to crack the code behind why mosquitoes like some humans more than others.

By Elizabeth Heubeck, M.A.
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
WebMD Feature

You're flipping burgers for the neighborhood barbecue, and the mosquitoes have already begun their feast -- on you. As you swat madly at the pests, you notice other folks seem completely unfazed. Could it be that mosquitoes prefer dining on some humans over others? This may clear up the mystery.

It's true. Mosquitoes do exhibit blood-sucking preferences, say the experts. "One in 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes," reports Jerry Butler, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida. Incidentally, it's not dinner they're sucking out of you. Female mosquitoes -- males do not bite people -- need human blood to develop fertile eggs. And apparently, not just anyone's.

Who Mosquitoes Like Best

While researchers have yet to pinpoint what mosquitoes consider an ideal hunk of human flesh, the hunt is on. "There's a tremendous amount of research being conducted on what compounds and odors people exude that might be attractive to mosquitoes," says Joe Conlon, PhD, technical advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association. With 400 different compounds to examine, it's an extremely laborious process. "Researchers are just beginning to scratch the surface," he says.

Scientists do know that genetics account for a whopping 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.

"People with high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on their skin surface attract mosquitoes," Butler tells WebMD. That doesn't necessarily mean that mosquitoes prey on people with higher overall levels of cholesterol, Butler explains. They simply may be more efficient at processing cholesterol, the byproducts of which remain on the skin's surface.

Mosquitoes also target people who produce excess amounts of certain acids, such as uric acid, explains entomologist John Edman, PhD, spokesman for the Entomological Society of America. These substances can trigger the mosquitoes' olfactory sensations, or sense of smell, causing them to launch their "landing" onto 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 kilometers, explains Edman. This doesn't bode well for people who emit large quantities of carbon dioxide.

"Any type of carbon dioxide is attractive, even over a long distance," Conlon says. Larger people tend to give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes typically prefer munching on adults to small children. 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. Here's why. 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 pouring from your sweat glands. And then -- gotcha!

My father always swore they didnt bother him because he ate lots of vinegar. Pickled beets, pickled cukes, etc? They sure always skipped over him and went after me!

I don't like any kind of bug but I hate mosquitos! My husband can stay right next to me they won't bother him at all but are all over me. Sometime one gets into our bedroom the buzzing actually wakes me up and I won't rest till I find it if it takes till morning. Have you ever been bitten on your eylid and can't see out of it for three days? That one did not buzz!

I'm definately a mosquito magnet, and we have them bad this year.

''They'' say the ones that whine don't do the biting. the biting ones apparently sneak up in stealth mode.

My Mom was a skeeter magnet and she was a diabetic. She often wondered if that was why.

The mosquitos love me. They will bother me when they are leaving everyone else alone. I always thought it was because I was sweet, now I find out it's because I am sweating, and emitting excessive amounts of carbon dioxide and steroids. Dang, another blow to the ego! LOL

I've just looked this up regarding fleas because mossies aren't a big issue here but fleas, horseflies and other bitey things love me. There was some idea here that they only go for people with sweet blood so that might not be such an old wives tale after all! My family don't suffer the same attraction though so genetics aren't always the answer.

Thanks Darius, I can feel superior to my family now since I know it's due to having a more efficient system than they have *G*. There is a problem withthat though, my metabolism practically shut down last year and isn't yet back to speed but I'm still getting bitten!

I have been somewhat convinced blood type plays a large part, and even more whether one is Rh negative or Rh positive. They certainly like my A- blood.

Nah - I'm O+ and I can be outside 5 seconds and already have a bite!

O+ seem to be the worst, as far as I have noticed. But like I said, that was just my theory. The CO2 thing above makes more sense, and is probably what the mosquito machines were supposed to do (and apparently don't)... eliminate (or absorb) CO2.

There was an old Native Indian that used to live next doot to me and he swore that if you put a tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water and drank that once a day during the season you wouldn't get bit. The only problem was is that no one told the mosquitos not to bite the ones who drank the vinegar. In other words, it didn't work for me. But then I'm just a sweetie. I guess I should double up on the dose. Maybe I'll give that a try this summer.

Jan....If this Native American is the same one I know...he stayed "pickled" quiet a bit......maybe that helped....LOL Jo

In my ongoing quest for health and understanding the human body needs, I've been doing some intense research tonight on the optimal pH for the human body.

Turns out most of us are acidic due to the typical American diet, whereas we should have an alkaline pH of around 7.3 to 7.4 for best health and the ability to ward off diseases like cancer, diabetes, etc..

When we are acidic, we give off LOTS more carbon dioxide, hence the attraction to mosquitoes.

Oh my God Jo you are absolutley right. You have me ROTFLOL. Yea, same one. Did you know that he passed away last year. They took him out of his enviorment up to Washington and he had a heart attack the first month he was there. They did bring his ashes back here and had a memorial service then scattered his ashes at the Cochise Stronghold out by Sheeps head Mountain.
How funny you should remember him and yes he did stay pretty pickelled all the time. I guess thats why the mosquitos never bothered him.
Jan

I have a picture of him...he was always at the American Legion Hall there in Tombstone. He was always very gracious and friendly to me. Jo