Ever notice that some people get swarmed by mosquitoes, while others seem to walk away without a single bite? If you’re one of the unlucky ones, you may be asking, “Why me?” To put it simply: you’re just too attractive for the mosquitoes to resist!

But what is it that makes some people more attractive to mosquitoes than others? And is there anything you can do to prevent it?

Well, you might be able to control some of these factors, but others are completely unavoidable (hint: it’s in your blood!). Here are the top 5 reasons mosquitoes are more attracted to certain people than others.

It’s Your Clothes

Here’s an easy one. If you notice yourself being swarmed by mosquitoes while others are getting away scot-free, your wardrobe might be to blame. Researchers have found that dark-coloured clothing, like black, red, or green, makes it easier for mosquitoes to spot you. Opt for lighter colours and avoid thin fabrics, like silk and linen, as mosquitoes can bite through to your skin with their long mouthparts. Layer up with thicker fabrics, like denim, and keep your arms and legs covered for maximum protection.

It’s Your B.O.

Yes, really. Variations of certain compounds and bacteria in your skin and sweat can make you more naturally attractive to mosquitoes than other people, but no amount of deodorant will make a difference. It’s just genetics! And it doesn’t correlate to smelliness as far as other humans are concerned.

It’s Your Breath

One of the major ways that mosquitoes detect people and other animals is by following the carbon dioxide in your breath! We naturally produce some carbon dioxide when we exhale, and the harder we breathe, the more carbon dioxide we emit. So if you’re producing above average amounts of carbon dioxide in your breath for a variety of reasons (i.e. heavy exercise, pregnancy, etc.), you may be sending out a homing beacon to nearby mosquitoes.

It’s Your Temperature

Mosquitoes can also detect heat. When they get near our bodies, they sense our warmth, partly because the level of water vapor in the air can change as they get closer to our skin. Different animals have different natural body temperatures, including humans, and mosquitoes may have a preference for some body temperatures over others. 

It’s Your Blood

Based on a few studies, mosquitoes seem to prefer Type O blood over all the other blood types, especially Type A. And they may be able to detect your blood type before they bite you by picking up signals from your sweat and saliva. However, having Type A blood won’t necessarily save you. It takes a combination of all the factors listed above to make a mosquito’s ideal meal.

You can’t change your blood or your B.O., but you can still protect yourself from mosquitoes with professional mosquito control from Mosquito Hero! Get custom, targeted control from a trained professional, effectively reducing the mosquito population in your yard. You can rest easy knowing that we stand behind our Mosquito Service Guarantee: if you experience biting between monthly treatments, we will happily re-treat your property for free!

Find a Mosquito Hero near you and get a free quote today!