Since blood type antigens can be found in the saliva and tears of secretors, it may be possible that mosquitoes can sense these antigens as they approach a person. Clearly, other individual factors can influence who mosquitoes choose to bite.
The available research indicates that mosquitoes may prefer individuals with blood type O. You release carbon dioxide when you exhale, leaving a trail of carbon dioxide that a mosquito can follow.
An increase in carbon dioxide in the air can alert a mosquito that a possible host is close by. The mosquito will then move toward the source of the carbon dioxide. If you find that mosquitoes bite you more than other people, you may just smell extra good to them.
Several factors may influence what you smell like to a mosquito, such as:. In addition to carbon dioxide and odors, our bodies also give off heat. Research from has found that female mosquitoes will move toward heat sources, regardless of their size. One study found that a higher number of mosquitoes were attracted to pregnant women when compared with nonpregnant women.
This may be because pregnant women release more carbon dioxide and have a higher body temperature. Mosquito repellents that are approved as safe and effective by the Environmental Protection Agency EPA include the following active ingredients:. Studies from and comparing different commercially available mosquito repellents have found that those containing DEET were overall the most effective at deterring mosquitoes. In addition to the repellents above, some natural products may also repel mosquitoes.
In addition to using a mosquito repellent, you can also take the following steps to help prevent getting bitten :. Mosquito bites typically resolve on their own after several days.
However, there are some things you can do in the meantime to help ease any itching or discomfort:. Although it can be very tempting, resist the urge to scratch a mosquito bite. Doing so can increase the risk of a skin infection.
Female mosquitoes suck blood from humans and other animals to help them reproduce. Although mostly annoying, in some parts of the world a mosquito bite can lead to illnesses like malaria.
Research has found that mosquitoes may prefer to bite people with type O blood. However, additional research is needed to further determine the link between blood type and mosquito attraction. In addition to blood type, other factors like carbon dioxide, body odor, heat, and dark clothing can also attract mosquitoes. You can reduce your risk of mosquito bites by using mosquito repellents, avoiding outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active, and eliminating standing water in your yard.
Cameron Webb and the Department of Medical Entomology have been engaged by a range of insect repellent and insecticide manufacturers to provide testing of products and provide expert advice on mosquito biology. Perhaps because some insects are known pollinators and attracted to nectar and other plant juices, it was considered that mosquitoes behave similarly? Mosquitoes do feed on plant sugars and this has been exploited in the development of new mosquito-borne disease surveillance strategies in Australia and North America.
As the saying goes, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. It is true that only female mosquitoes bite. She bites to get a hit of protein required for egg development, but preferences for that blood can vary greatly.
Some prefer to bite mammals. Some prefer birds. In fact, according to a study , certain species of the insect landed on the skin of people with Type O blood almost twice as often as they did on the skin of those with Type A. But what about your blood type draws mosquitoes to you?
Well, people secrete certain chemicals through their skin. The chemicals you produce will depend on your DNA, which also determines your blood type.
Jonathan Day , a University of Florida medical entomologist and mosquito expert, says that some of these chemicals — like lactic acid — can attract more mosquitoes. The insects use carbon dioxide as a means of locating the source of their meal. The higher your metabolic rate, the more carbon dioxide you produce, making you more attractive to mosquitoes.
This means people who have recently worked out, pregnant women or those who just have high resting metabolic rates, could be more attractive to mosquitoes.
The clothes you choose to wear can impact whether you attract mosquitoes, too. Mosquitoes are very visual and are attracted to darker colors. In addition, we tend to bare more skin in the summer, which gives mosquitoes more surface area of skin to land on, bite and feed. So, do mosquitoes prefer a certain blood type? Final answer: Yes. Learn more about the mosquito service at Terminix and get your free estimate today.
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