Mosquitoes are drawn to certain people more than others for a variety of reasons. If you’ve noticed mosquitoes flocking to you more than usual this year, there are a few possible explanations. Mosquitoes use different cues like scent, carbon dioxide, and body heat to find hosts to bite. If you’re emitting stronger signals in any of these areas, you may suddenly become more attractive to mosquitoes. Additionally, fluctuations in weather, enviornmental changes, and lifestyle factors can cause shifts in local mosquito populations and activity levels, making them seek out more hosts more aggressively at different times. With some detective work and extra precautions, you can try to evade your newfound mosquito magnetism.
Why Are Mosquitoes Attracted To Me?
Mosquitoes use the following cues to find and target hosts:
Scent
Mosquitoes are extremely attracted to certain scents emitted by the human body. They have an excellent sense of smell and can detect these chemical signals from up to 50 meters away. Some people naturally produce more of these mosquito-attracting compounds in their skin. Lactic acid, ammonia, uric acid, and carbon dioxide are examples of chemicals that are cues for mosquitos looking for blood. Genetic factors can cause you to emit more of these scents, making you more appealing to mosquitoes.
Carbon Dioxide
Mosquitoes are especially drawn to carbon dioxide as an indicator that animals are nearby to provide a blood meal. Simply breathing out releases lots of CO2 that mosquitoes quickly zone in on. The more rapid and heavy your breathing, the more alluring the CO2 plume you give off. Physical activity and exercise increases your CO2 production, so being outdoors and active makes you prime mosquito bait.
Body Heat
Mosquitoes are drawn to the warmth emitted by your body as a sign of a prospective host. They can detect infrared radiation and follow heat signatures to find living prey. The higher your core body temperature, the stronger the heat signal you give off, making warm-blooded mammals like humans attractive targets. Physical activity that raises your temperature further enhances the heat cue.
Blood Type
Studies show that people with Type O blood are significantly more attractive to mosquitoes than those with Type A. Mosquitoes were also somewhat more drawn to Type B than Type A. If you have Type O blood, you may be fending off more mosquito interest, especially when other factors like sweat and activity levels are also at play.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women tend to be bitten more by mosquitoes due to a few changes that happen during pregnancy. Increased exhaled CO2 and raised body temperature from the fast-growing fetus may boost mosquito appeal. Changes to skin bacteria during pregnancy may also lead to more potent attractive odors. Higher estrogen levels also make for an appealing mosquito target.
Beer Drinking
Beer drinking tips the attractiveness scales towards mosquitoes. Ethanol in your blood increases the likelihood of mosquito landings and bites. Lactic acid and other chemicals excreted through your skin after drinking a beer give off scents that draw in mosquitoes. Part of beer’s appeal to mosquitoes may stem from the increased hand-to-mouth contact that raises your CO2 concentrations.
Dark Clothing
Mosquitoes see dark colors better than light ones. Wearing black, dark blue, crimson and similar dark-hued clothing when outside makes you more visible and appealing to mosquitoes. Lighter shades of khaki, green, yellow and white have the opposite effect.
Why Am I Suddenly Irresistible To Mosquitoes?
A few reasons you may suddenly become a mosquito magnet:
Rain & Floods
Excess moisture from heavy rainfall and flooding provides ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed in standing water. More breeding means higher local mosquito populations looking for a meal. Floodwaters also drive mosquitoes and animals they feed on to higher ground, increasing close contact and bite opportunities.
Travel
If you’ve recently traveled to tropical or wet environments, you may have transported some uninvited guests back home. Mosquitoes like Aedes albopictus can travel on airplanes up to 8 hour flights. Their eggs can also survive for months in dry conditions. Invasive species establish themselves in new habitats when inadvertently carried far from their native range.
Change of Season
Late summer into fall is peak mosquito season in many temperate regions. Females are out taking blood meals to develop eggs before winter. Bears and other animals mosquitoes target are also more active pre-hibernation, being forced into closer proximity around human habitats and increasing the localized mosquito populations.
New Nearby Breeding Grounds
Stagnant water from heavy summer rains, irrigation runoff from farms or gardens, poorly maintained swimming pools and decorations like birdbaths make excellent mosquito breeding habitat. Newly flooded areas allow large broods to emerge. Mosquitoes rarely travel more than a few hundred feet from where they hatch during their lifetime, so new populations around your home or work could mean more bites.
Decreased Immune Response
If your immune system is compromised by age, illness, or stress, your body may have a more muted response to mosquito saliva. With a decreased immune reaction, you may not itch or swell as quickly after bites, causing you to receive more unnoticed bites over time. A body already under duress has a hard time fending off parasites like mosquitoes.
Change In Exercise Routine
Increased time spent exercising outdoors midsummer can make you a prized mosquito target. More sweat, CO2 and heat paired with Type O blood can create an irresistible allure. Switching to evening workouts when prime feeding times begin compounds the appeal. Moving your exercise routine outdoors after a winter of gym training may inadvertently boost your mosquito magnetism.
Loss of Natural Defenses
Scented soaps, lotions, deodorants, and laundry detergents help cover up or mask natural chemical odors on your skin and clothes that deter insects. Sweat and bacteria reacted to create your unique “human scent signature” that kept bugs at bay. Strong perfumes and balms also disrupt your natural chemical profile.
Shopping Mall & Street Lights
New shopping centers and street lamps can inadvertently attract and concentrate local mosquito populations. Mosquitoes congregate around these structures at night, drawn by light and human activity. People stuck indoors more during pandemic lockdowns also led to reductions in insect pest control efforts. With people back outdoors, bite consequences are becoming more noticeable.
| Factor | Effect on Mosquito Attraction |
|---|---|
| Exhaled Carbon Dioxide | More CO2 makes you more appealing |
| Scent | Increase in attractive odors like lactic acid means more interest |
| Body Heat | Warmer body temperature gives stronger heat signature for mosquitoes to target |
| Blood Type | Type O and B blood makes you more desirable than Type A |
| Pregnancy | Hormonal changes make pregnant women prime targets |
| Beer Drinking | Ethanol and skin secretions heighten appeal |
| Dark Clothing | Dark fabric colors make you stand out to mosquitoes |
| Rain & Floods | More standing water enables bigger mosquito breeding boom |
| Travel | Can transport and introduce new invasive mosquito species |
| Season Change | Late summer and fall see peaks in mosquito populations |
| Nearby Breeding | New stagnant water habitats drive up local mosquito numbers |
| Immune Function | Compromised immunity makes you less responsive to bites |
| More Exercise Outdoors | Increases activity, sweat, CO2, and heat signals |
| Loss of Natural Defenses | Scented products mask skin’s natural insect-deterring odors |
| Urbanization | Streetlights congregate mosquitoes around businesses |
How To Stop Mosquitoes From Biting Me
Ways to make yourself less appealing and noticeable to mosquitoes:
Avoid Dusk And Dawn
Limit time outdoors during peak mosquito feeding times at dusk and dawn when possible. Stay inside screened-in porches if relaxing outside at sunset.
Eliminate Standing Water
Remove sources of standing water around your home to deter mosquito breeding. Clear rain gutters, flower pots, buckets, pool covers, pet dishes, etc. Check for hidden pooled water too.
Stay Covered
Wear full coverage clothing like long sleeves and pants when outdoors. Light shades are less attractive than black or red gear. Wear closed shoes instead of sandals to cover more skin.
Try a Fan
Portable fans can help deter mosquitoes by blowing away CO2 from your direction. Position one nearby to disrupt the CO2 plume that attracts them when outside.
Apply Insect Repellent
Use an EPA-approved insect repellent on any exposed skin. DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus are effective choices. Reapply every few hours for ongoing protection according to label instructions.
Plug In Repellents
Citronella candles, electric “mosquito zappers” and other spatial repellents discourage mosquitoes from lingering in treated outdoor areas. Position them near where you plan to spend time outside.
Try Natural Repellents
Plant-derived essential oils like peppermint, lemongrass, geraniol, cedarwood, lavender, thyme and neem provide mild repelling effects. Rub diluted oils on skin or clothing.
Install Screens
Well-fitting, tight screens on windows, doors, and porches impede mosquitoes from entering living spaces while allowing airflow. Make sure screens are intact with no gaps or holes.
Skip Scents
Avoid colognes, perfumes, scented lotions and fragrant soaps. Let your natural scent shine through minus synthetic fragrances that could lure mosquitoes.
Take Oral Vitamin B-1
There is some evidence showing daily doses of oral vitamin B-1 (thiamine) helps make you less appealing in mosquito taste tests. No toxic risks have been found. Dosages of 50-100 mg/day are well-tolerated.
Try a Mosquito Trap
Traps use light, attractants and vacuums to draw mosquitoes in and contain them, decreasing numbers around your home. Ensure traps are cleaned regularly for optimal functionality.
Install Bat Houses
Bats are voracious predators of mosquitoes and other insects. Put up bat houses to encourage bats on your property without human house entry. Each bat can consume 1,000 mosquitoes per hour.
Get Help From Birds
Many bird species like purple martins happily feast on mosquitoes. Attract insect-eating birds by landscaping native plants and flowers that provide seeds and berries. Place bird feeders and houses.
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet. Mosquitoes can sense dehydration through skin secretions, finding saltiness attractive. Proper hydration and nutrition support your immune defenses as well.
Take Garlic Supplements
Regular garlic consumption makes you less tasty to mosquitoes in as little as 3 weeks. Allicin, an active sulfur compound in garlic, alters skin secretions through digestion. Capsules are the most convenient form.
| Deterrent | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Avoid peak times | Limits exposure during prime mosquito feeding |
| Remove standing water | Stops mosquito breeding nearby |
| Cover up | Blocks access to skin |
| Use fans | Disrupts CO2 plume mosquitoes follow |
| Apply repellents | Chemicals deter mosquito landings |
| Spatial repellents | Discourages mosquitoes from lingering in area |
| Plant oils | Masks human scents that attract mosquitoes |
| Install screens | Forms barrier against entry |
| Skip scents | Retains natural scent profile |
| Vitamin B-1 | Changes skin secretions to become less appetizing |
| Traps | Attracts and contains mosquitoes |
| Bats & birds | Natural predators eat mosquitoes |
| Stay hydrated | Boosts health and avoids saltiness mosquitoes target |
| Garlic | Alters skin secretions through digestion |
When To See A Doctor
Consult your physician if you experience:
– Severe swelling, redness, pain, or rash after a bite
– Flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue after time outdoors
– Multiple large mosquito bites in a short time
– Signs of infection around a bite like worsening redness, pus
– Difficulty breathing soon after bites
– Young children displaying sensitivity reactions
These could indicate an allergic response, infection, or illness transmitted by mosquitoes like West Nile virus or malaria. Most mosquito bites resolve without medical care, but seek help if severe or concerning symptoms develop.
Conclusion
Mosquitoes target certain people more aggressively than others due to signals given off by your body heat, carbon dioxide exhalations, exercise and sweat levels, genetics, pregnancy, and even choice of beer or clothing color. Population increases and breeding grounds emerging nearby also drive up numbers trying to bite you. While largely a nuisance, take steps to avoid mosquitoes when possible and speak with your doctor if you have an unusual reaction. With diligence and the right defenses, you can try to take back your summer from sudden mosquito magnet misery.