Scientists identify 5 main reasons that make humans an excellent bait for bloodsucking.
You've probably noticed that mosquitoes attack some people, and seem to bypass others. And it doesn't seem to you. The reason lies in the genetics and chemistry of the body of the potential victim.
“There is no longer any doubt that mosquitoes choose their prey based on the chemicals released by human skin and the bacteria that colonize it,” said entomologist Joseph Conlon of the American Mosquito Control Association.
Scientists identify 5 main reasons that make humans an excellent bait for bloodsucking.
Pregnancy
Female mosquitoes react to carbon dioxide in the air. In this they are helped by special receptors on the surface of the body. But what connection does this have with pregnant women? In 2002, a study published in The Lancet showed that women in late pregnancy (about 28 weeks) breathe out 21% more carbon dioxide than non-pregnant women. This physiological feature explains why mosquitoes are 2 times more attracted to women in position.
Carbon dioxide isn't the only thing mosquitoes crave for.
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“The skin of pregnant women has a special smell,” says Laura Harrington, professor of entomology at Cornell University. It turned out to be attractive to female mosquitoes. After all, only they bite us. Male mosquitoes feed on plant foods.
Excessive sweating
If you are besieged by mosquitoes while exercising outdoors, you will need to move your classes indoors. This is because the lactic acid released with sweat during exercise is a good bait for insects. Mosquitoes also feel warmth from a hot body. And the closer the insect is to your body, the more you attract them.
First blood group 0 (I)
Just as we love some foods and dislike others, mosquitoes also have taste preferences. According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, insects are attracted to blood type 0 (I) or the first.
“The fact is that people of this blood type emit a certain smell that attracts bloodsuckers,” says Joseph Conlon.
If your blood type is 1, don't forget about repellents.
Drunk beer
The number of bites can increase significantly if you are not only eating outside, but also drinking alcohol. A study in which some participants drank beer and others drank water found that volunteers who wandered became more attractive to mosquitoes. Another study in Japan came to similar conclusions. But the reason for this phenomenon is not fully understood.
Genetics
A study with the participation of identical and fraternal twins showed that it depends on genes whether you will be eaten by mosquitoes in the forest. Scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine note that some people release substances that repel mosquitoes. The production of these substances is determined genetically.
American scientists have gone even further in the study of this issue. To test how body odor affects mosquitoes, they placed 200 pairs of worn-out sock-breeding and fraternal twins in a mosquito wind tunnel. Thus, they will observe whose clothes the mosquitoes find more attractive. Study author James Logan hopes that if genes can be identified that influence the production of natural insect repellents, it will be possible to develop a radical mosquito repellent in the future.
How to protect yourself from mosquitoes?
Biologist Professor Nora Besanski is not encouraging:
- The easiest way, but not very acceptable in the heat, is to protect yourself from mosquitoes with clothing, such as trousers and long-sleeved shirts. Better yet, spray repellent onto your clothes. Or use lemon eucalyptus oil. It is the safest and can be used in children from 3 years of age.
KARINA GYAMJYAN
