Scientists have discovered why mosquitoes bite some people and leave others alone

Experts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine conducted experiments and were able to answer the question why mosquitoes prefer to bite some people, but hardly touch others, Liter.kz reports.

It turns out that mosquitoes track their prey by smell, and one of the things they hunt for is carbon dioxide. It is this gas exhaled by a person that acts as a beacon for insects. Larger people exhale more carbon dioxide, which is why they are bitten more often, experts say.

Following this logic, we can say that men are bitten more often than women, while pregnant women are bitten more often than non-pregnant women, and in general, adults suffer from mosquito attacks more often than children. Also at risk are people with increased breathing rates, such as athletes.

One common belief is that blood type, especially type O, makes people more attractive to mosquitoes. Experts note that this factor is probably not important for mosquitoes when choosing a victim.

It has been suggested that food and drink may influence mosquito bites. Garlic can mask the odor, and sweet and salty foods can attract them. After drinking beer, mosquitoes land more often, one study found.

Another factor to consider in the mosquito preference debate is that genetic factors and the skin microbiome may be an issue. Simply put, insects are attracted in different ways by one or another “personal scent” of a person.