Why do mosquitoes seem to bite some people more than others?
There's always one in a crowd,a sort of harbinger of the oncoming mosquito bite,a person, mosquitoes seem to target more than others. What is it about these unlucky chosen few that makes them mosquito magnets?
Mosquitoes are stimulated by numerous factors when seeking out a blood meal. Initially,they are attracted by the carbon dioxide we exhale. Body heat is probably important too,but once the mosquito gets closer,it would respond to the smell of a potent blood source skin. There are upto 400 chemical compounds on the skin that could play a role in attracting or perhaps,repulsing mosquitoes. This smelly mix,produced by bacteria living in our skin and exuded in sweat,varies from person to person and is likely to explain why there is a substantial variation in how many mosquitoes we attract. Genetics probably plays a big role in this,but a little of it may be down to diet or physiology.
Sweat contains lactic acid,which is a key mosquito attractant, particularly for human - biting species such as Aedes aegypti. Mosquitoes that spread malaria (Anopheles) are attracted to Limburger cheese. The bacteria that gives this cheese it's distinctive aroma is closely related to germs living between our toes. But when another mosquito,say Aedes aegypti is exposed to the same cheese,the phenomenon is not repeated.
The bad news is that if you're one of these people,there isn't much you can do about it other than wearing insect repellents. The good news is that you may one day help isolate a substance,or a mix of substances,that will help scientists find the perfect lure to use in mosquito traps. There is no evidence from anywhere in the world that there is something you can eat or drink that will stop you being bitten by mosquitoes. No, not even eating garlic, or swallowing vitamin B supplements.
Perhaps if we spent as much time thinking about how to choose and use mosquito repellents as we do about why mosquitoes bite our friends and family less than us, there’d be fewer bites all around.
Mosquitoes are stimulated by numerous factors when seeking out a blood meal. Initially,they are attracted by the carbon dioxide we exhale. Body heat is probably important too,but once the mosquito gets closer,it would respond to the smell of a potent blood source skin. There are upto 400 chemical compounds on the skin that could play a role in attracting or perhaps,repulsing mosquitoes. This smelly mix,produced by bacteria living in our skin and exuded in sweat,varies from person to person and is likely to explain why there is a substantial variation in how many mosquitoes we attract. Genetics probably plays a big role in this,but a little of it may be down to diet or physiology.
Sweat contains lactic acid,which is a key mosquito attractant, particularly for human - biting species such as Aedes aegypti. Mosquitoes that spread malaria (Anopheles) are attracted to Limburger cheese. The bacteria that gives this cheese it's distinctive aroma is closely related to germs living between our toes. But when another mosquito,say Aedes aegypti is exposed to the same cheese,the phenomenon is not repeated.
The bad news is that if you're one of these people,there isn't much you can do about it other than wearing insect repellents. The good news is that you may one day help isolate a substance,or a mix of substances,that will help scientists find the perfect lure to use in mosquito traps. There is no evidence from anywhere in the world that there is something you can eat or drink that will stop you being bitten by mosquitoes. No, not even eating garlic, or swallowing vitamin B supplements.
Perhaps if we spent as much time thinking about how to choose and use mosquito repellents as we do about why mosquitoes bite our friends and family less than us, there’d be fewer bites all around.
Hi mathangi.. always fascinated with your topics. Actually these are some of the topics we all think is so damn simple or trivial or something that most of us would probably know..but it is not!! The questions are simple but the answers to these are mind boggling.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to ask is there blood group to do anything with mosquitoes getting attracted to a person?
Thanks a lot ! If you love them,please keep reading ! Yes,I guess blood group is related to mosquitoes getting attracted to a person as type O blood group people secrete saccharides on the skin. Hence, mosquitoes are most attracted to type O blood group and least attracted to type A blood group.
ReplyDeleteYes..very true.
ReplyDelete😀
ReplyDeleteGood one dear! Very informative! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThank you 😊
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