Why Not All People Fall Victim to Mosquitoes (Video)

Some people are bitten by mosquitoes mercilessly and constantly, at every encounter, covering their bodies with itchy pimples. Others shrug their shoulders in bewilderment, not understanding the essence of the matter – mosquitoes do not bite them at all. What determines the addiction of biting insects?

Reasons for such selective behavior of mosquitoes explains LiveScience. As a rule, The choice of prey for these blood-sucking insects is linked to the chemical composition of the air around us. They use invisible chemical traces of our bodies, such as carbon dioxide. When we exhale, it does not immediately mix with the air, but spreads out in a plume, which mosquitoes follow. Joop van Loon, an entomologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, explains:

“Mosquitoes begin to orient themselves towards carbon dioxide and fly against the wind because they sense higher concentrations of CO2 than normal in the air.”

Interestingly, thanks to carbon dioxide, Mosquitoes can “sense” a target at a distance of up to 50 meters. And when insects approach a group of people at about 1 meter, they begin to “sort through”, guided by many individual factors – skin temperature, the presence of water vapor evaporating through it, and even color.

Scientists believe that the most important characteristics mosquitoes rely on when choosing one person over another are chemical compounds produced by colonies of microbes that live on the skin.says van Loon:

“The bacteria convert the secretions of our sweat glands into volatile compounds that are carried through the air into the mosquitoes' olfactory system.”

These chemical bouquets are complex, including over 300 different compounds, and vary from person to person depending on genetic makeup and environment. Jeff Riffell, an associate professor at the University of Washington who has studied mosquito preferences, says:

“If you compare a father and daughter living in the same house, they may have differences in the ratio of chemicals produced by microbes.”

Minor differences in the chemical bouquets on the skin may explain why some people are bitten more by mosquitoes than others. For example Men with a greater diversity of skin microbes are bitten less by mosquitoes than men with a lower diversity. This is according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. According to Riffell, the composition of these microbial colonies can change over time, especially if a person gets sick.

Experts have given some advice on what you can do to reduce mosquito bites. But first, take a look at the research findings:

• mosquitoes like the color black,
• Mosquitoes are more attracted to people who expend a lot of energy. Increased production of carbon dioxide (due to heavy breathing) and lactic acid (a by-product of increased physical activity) attract mosquitoes;
• People with high metabolic rates attract more mosquitoes.

Jonathan Day, a professor of medical entomology at the University of Florida, says:

“That's why people who are running or exercising attract the attention of many mosquitoes, while people lying in the backyard are less interesting to them.”

And now about that, how to prevent mosquito bites:

1. You should wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
2. Fabrics worn by runners or boaters are a good choice for those looking to hide from bloodthirsty insects.
3. You should try to avoid mosquito habitats such as wetlands and forests.
4. If you have to go outside when mosquitoes are looking for food, you can use insect repellent to prevent them from biting you.
5. Use a fan to keep mosquitoes away from you.
6. Light an unscented candle.
7. Avoid standing water in your garden by turning empty buckets and pots upside down.

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