Do Mosquitoes Always Choose You? Is There an Explanation?

In a study conducted to understand the potential dangers of mosquito bites, a group of researchers found that some people are bitten by mosquitoes more often than others.

There are several factors that explain the preferences of female mosquitoes, the only sex that attacks. These include, for example, heat, carbon dioxide, and the odors emitted by humans, based on genetics, the skin microbiome (the collection of organisms on the surface of this organ), and nutrition.

Research on this issue has been going on since the mid-20th century. In 1950, scientists placed steel tanks in the shape of a person in the forest, filled with water, dressed in a shirt or vest, and counted how many times mosquitoes landed on these objects. They found that these animals were most attracted to tanks that were the temperature of human skin, emitted carbon dioxide, or wore clothes soaked in human sweat. Subsequent studies showed a clear preference for human odors over animal odors and proved that carbon dioxide increases the sensitivity of these insects to the presence of odors on the skin, the magazine explains. Scientist.

Despite the shared characteristics, “our skin is covered in bacteria that release volatiles that vary from person to person,” said Meg Younger, a neuroscientist at Boston University in the United States. “This difference in smell between people is what causes the difference in mosquito attraction to different people,” he concluded. What is known is that mosquitoes detect these substances on their skin using olfactory receptors on their antennae. However, it is still difficult to understand exactly what their preferred odor profiles are.

Other factors that can lead to more frequent mosquito bites include infection with malaria parasites or even pregnancy, factors that cause changes in body temperature and carbon dioxide emissions.

To prevent mosquito bites, scientists recommend wearing protective clothing or spraying chemical repellents or plant extracts on clothing and exposed skin, or, if possible, staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active. Some natural products, such as lavender essential oil, are considered excellent repellents.

Several studies are trying to find new and more effective ways to reduce mosquito populations, such as using toxic sugar baits, new insecticides, and biological control measures through genetic manipulation. It is important to note that mosquitoes can pose a much bigger threat than just itching, pain, or allergies. These animals can carry diseases such as dengue fever and yellow fever, which cause millions of deaths worldwide each year.