Are Mosquitoes Attracted to You? | Mosquito Facts You Should Know

Are Mosquitoes Attracted to You? | Mosquito Facts You Should Know

Your friends are having a blast at the outdoor party you are attending. You too would have an otherwise nice time if not for the pesky mosquitoes which seem to have fixated on you.

Do mosquitoes like you?

Why do some people seem more attractive to these insects? There are seven key reasons why you seem to attract more mosquitoes than your friends do.

Mosquitoes are attracted to the clothes you wear

Mosquitoes use their sense of sight to find their victims, especially in the late afternoon. And if you wear dark colors like black, navy and red, you are more likely to attract mosquitoes.

Your blood type attracts Mosquitoes

Male mosquitoes rely on nectar for sustenance. Females, on the other hand, need the protein in the blood of their victims for the production of their eggs. According to studies, people with Type O blood are twice as likely to get bitten by mosquitoes compared to people with other blood types. People with Type A blood are the least likely. On top of that, 85 percent of people secrete chemicals which indicate the blood type they possess, making them more attractive to mosquitoes.

Your breath attracts Mosquitoes

The mosquito has a keen sense of smell, allowing them to detect carbon dioxide from as far as 160 feet. And the more you exhale, the more likely you are to attract mosquitoes. Larger people and people who exhale through their noses and mouths are more likely to get bitten by mosquitoes.

The scent of your sweat

You are more likely to attract mosquitoes after exercising. Mosquitoes can smell the different chemicals you emit with your sweat including lactic acid, ammonia and uric acid. During exercise, the amount of lactic acid on your body increases.

The bacteria on your skin

There are plenty of bacteria on your skin and some of these produce a scent that attracts mosquitoes. This scent can be the reason why mosquitoes have a tendency to zero in on the ankles and feet.

Pregnancy

A study conducted in Africa revealed that pregnant women were twice as likely to get bitten by mosquitoes as women who were not pregnant. Experts believe that the reason behind this may be the increased amount of carbon dioxide that pregnant women exhale. On top of that, the stomachs of pregnant women were hotter by 1.26°F, making them easier for mosquitoes to find.

Beer

Drinking beer can make you more likely to get bitten by a mosquito. According to scientists, drinking beer increases the ethanol in sweat and increases the skin temperature.

If you have more mosquito questions get some advice from your local pest control company in Modesto, contact the professionals at AAI Pest Control today.

Source: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/mosquito/