Mosquitoes are sometimes attracted more to certain people. This is based on how much carbon dioxide they exhale, their skin chemistry, and blood type.
When you go to the barbecue, you don’t expect to be on the menu. But when the mosquitoes come out and hassle you and you alone, you might wonder, “what gives?”
First, this is a real thing that really does happen. With every exhalation, you send out a CO2 plume that mosquitoes can detect from well over a hundred feet away. People who produce more CO2—generally those who are larger, more physically active, or pregnant—get noticed from farther away. If you just finished a run, you’re broadcasting a stronger signal than your friends.
Once a mosquito gets close, then it’s a matter of skin chemistry. Your body, like anyone else’s, emits lactic acid, uric acid, ammonia, and fatty acids through sweat, and the specific blend varies from person to person. Research has shown that the composition and diversity of bacteria living on your skin play a major role. People with high concentrations of a few dominant bacterial species tend to be more attractive to mosquitoes than people with more diverse skin microbiomes. (You generally can’t do anything about this.)
If you have Type O blood, that might also explain why mosquitoes see you as a universal donor. You’ll likely be bitten more than those with Type A or B blood. Body heat and dark clothing also increase your visibility once a mosquito is in close range.
You can’t change your blood type or metabolism. But you can greatly reduce the mosquito population on your own property.
If you’re tired of being a mosquito magnet in your own yard, Mosquito Squad of Nassau - Queens can help. Barrier treatments can be applied to the resting and breeding areas across your property on a recurring schedule. For people who draw mosquitoes no matter what they do, this is the most reliable path to comfortable time outside.
