Why Am I Always Getting Mosquito Bites? The Science Behind Mosquito Attraction

Why Do Mosquitoes Prefer Certain People?

Do you wonder why mosquitoes seem to ignore everyone else but always find you? It turns out the answer has far more to do with biology than bad luck. Scientists have discovered that mosquitoes really do find certain people more attractive than others.

Only female mosquitoes bite humans, using our blood to extract proteins to produce their eggs³. To locate a human host, female mosquitoes use their antennae to detect where to land for their next blood meal. Their primary long-range cue that humans are nearby is carbon dioxide (CO₂), which humans release with every exhale². Once nearby, mosquitoes rely on chemical signals like body odor, lactic acid, ammonia, carboxylic acids, body heat, and humidity all to locate humans¹. Every person releases a unique combination and concentration of these chemicals, making certain individuals naturally more attractive to mosquitoes than others.

Genetic factors and human biology, like your metabolism, play a major role in the production and release of odor chemicals. It has been found that high concentrations of any of the following on your skin’s surface could trigger a mosquito’s sense of smell: steroids, cholesterol, carboxylic acids, and different components of sweat⁴. Genetics influence which of these chemicals are produced and how much is released, helping explain why mosquito attraction varies from person to person. Even age is potentially involved in susceptibility to mosquito bites, as studies show that adults exhibit greater attractiveness to mosquitoes compared to children¹. So basically, mosquitoes aren’t choosing people at random.

What Makes Someone a “Mosquito Magnet”?

There is a large diversity of factors that attract mosquitoes. Most factors are only modestly understood and are still quite controversial and require more scientific studies.

Higher CO₂ Output

As CO₂ is the main molecule used by mosquitoes to find a blood source, people who release greater amounts of CO₂tend to be bitten more often. People exercising outdoors, individuals with higher metabolic rates, and larger-bodied individuals generally produce more carbon dioxide, making them easier for mosquitoes to locate.¹

Higher body temperature

Mosquitoes are “heat seeking”, which means they are drawn to body heat. If you have a higher body temperature (like during exercise), you may find yourself the target of nearby mosquitoes.²

Pregnancy

Pregnancy increases your metabolism, which leads to giving off more CO₂and heat – 2 of the strongest mosquito attractants.²

Body Odor and Skin Bacteria

Common bacteria found on the skin help break down sweat and produce body odors. Some odors are more appealing to mosquitoes than others, and each person’s skin microbiome is unique. Researchers increasingly believe that skin bacteria is one of the strongest predictors of mosquito attractiveness.^2,3

Alcohol & Bananas

Several studies suggest that alcohol consumption may increase the attraction of mosquitoes to humans; beer was the source of alcohol in those studies. One study found that people who drank beer were bitten more often than when they weren’t drinking beer. The evidence therefore exists that beer consumption can lead to increased mosquito attraction. Similar studies showed the consumption of bananas may increase human attractiveness to mosquitoes, although evidence remains limited. ^1,2

Clothing Color

While there are no colors that can make you “invisible” to mosquitoes, there are studies showing that mosquitoes tend to be attracted to dark colors, like black or dark blue, and overly vibrant colors, like orange or red². Light colors on the other hand, like soft greens, blues, purples and white, appear to be less attractive to mosquitoes than darker or brighter colors⁴.

Common Myths

× Garlic repels mosquitoes

× Vitamin B prevents bites

× Mosquitoes prefer certain blood types

× Eating spicy food attracts mosquitoes

Vitamin B supplementation and garlic consumption have been suggested as mosquito repellent strategies, especially in popular media. Both of these suggestions have been disproven in a number of studies as they show no effect on mosquito repellency¹. In early studies of mosquitoes, it was suggested that blood type, particularly Type O blood, could influence human attractiveness to humans; this association, however, was later refuted in subsequent studies, although the myth still exists today¹. Some people believe that consuming the following attracts mosquitoes: potassium-rich foods (like leafy greens and beans), salty snacks, spicy foods, and sweets; there haven’t been any significant studies to support these claims⁴.

Scientists continue to discover new factors that influence mosquito attraction. While you can’t change your genetics or metabolism, you can reduce your risk of being bitten by interrupting the cues mosquitoes rely on to find you.

How Insect Repellents Break the Mosquito’s Search

Mosquitoes rely on smell, CO₂detection, skin odors, and heat signatures to find human hosts to bite. Most repellents interfere with that process, helping to make the wearers seem unappealing to these pests. Rising in popularity, the active repellent ingredient IR3535® works by disrupting the mosquito’s sense of smell and taste. Structurally modeled after the naturally occurring amino acid B-alanine, IR3535® is a safer alternative to DEET-containing products. Rather than killing mosquitoes, IR3535® makes it much harder for mosquitoes to identify you as a suitable blood meal.

IMPEDE is a lotion-based insect repellent formulated with the strong active ingredient of IR3535®. Offering a protection time of up to 14 hours, IMPEDE utilizes the patented technology, STAYTEC™, to keep the active ingredient on the skin longer. The DEET-free lotion of IMPEDE is not only safe for children, but also suitable for pregnant women, a population that is particularly important to protect from mosquito bites because of the increased mosquito attraction and the health risks associated with mosquito-borne diseases during pregnancy. Additionally IMPEDE is sweat- and water-resistant, making it a great choice for outdoor exercise that could attract more mosquitoes. The non-greasy formula of IMPEDE is likewise ideal for travel in tropical and other mosquito-prone environments.

While some can naturally attract more mosquitoes than other people, mosquito bites don’t have to be inevitable. Understanding how mosquitoes locate humans – and using an effective insect repellent that interferes with those signals – is one of the most reliable ways to reduce and prevent bites. Whether you are naturally a “mosquito magnet” or simply spending time outdoors in mosquito-prone areas, IMPEDE provides reliable, long-lasting protection, designed to interrupt the mosquito’s search before a bite occurs. Spend less time swatting mosquitoes and more time enjoying the outdoors with IMPEDE.

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