Do you ever wonder why mosquitoes prefer some people more than others
According to Dr. Jonathan Day, a medical entomologist and mosquito expert at the University of Florida, told Time Magazine that there’s evidence that O blood type attracts mosquitoes more than type A or type B.
Photo via Medical News Today
This is because people with different blood types have different sets of specific proteins or antigens, on the surface of their red blood cells and apparently, mosquitoes appear to be more attracted to people with blood type O than other blood types.
However, there are other reasons why mosquitoes are attracted to you more than others...
They can sense carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is one of the main ways in which mosquitoes locate their next feast.
Though all vertebrates produce carbon dioxide, he added that pregnant women and obese people, who have a higher resting metabolic rates are more attractive to mosquitoes.
Thus, bigger people attract more mosquitoes because they produce higher carbon dioxide rather than others
They can detect heat and sweat
Besides carbon dioxide, mosquitoes are attracted to the human body heat and the scent of human sweat.
They can detect the heat and sweat through the lactic acid on the victim’s skin, making them easy targets for the mosquitoes.
They are attracted to dark colours
It is believed that darker clothes such as navy, blue, black and red will encourage more visibility and attract more mosquitoes than lighter-colored clothes.
Wow, very interesting! Looks like we’re staying indoors from now on!
Guys, you can reduce your risk of mosquito bites by using mosquito repellents, avoiding outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active and getting rid of stagnant water in your yard.
Finally an explanation! Hope this helps.
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
