Mosquito bites are not just annoying. Mosquitoes can also spread diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and the Zika virus.
That is why researchers are working to understand what makes some people more attractive to mosquitoes than others.
The body sends signals
Research published in Scientific Reports shows that mosquitoes are attracted, among other things, to the carbon dioxide we exhale.
They can follow the air currents created by our breathing and locate people that way.
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Another study published in Cell suggests that body heat and certain substances on the skin also play a role.
Some people produce higher levels of chemical compounds in their sweat that mosquitoes can detect.
According to Healthline, this may be one reason why some individuals are bitten more often than others.
A well-known repellent still works
Many people use the mosquito repellent DEET to protect themselves from bites.
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However, a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology found that mosquitoes in laboratory experiments could learn to associate the smell of DEET with access to blood.
Researchers emphasize, however, that DEET remains one of the most effective mosquito repellents available.
The findings therefore do not mean that people should stop using it.
A surprising connection
A study published on bioRxiv involving 465 festivalgoers in the Netherlands found a possible link between beer consumption and an increased number of mosquito bites.
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The researchers believe that compounds associated with the scent of beer may help attract mosquitoes.
However, they stress that more research is needed before this conclusion can be confirmed.
Overall, the research suggests that our breathing, skin chemistry, and possibly even beer consumption may influence how attractive we are to mosquitoes.
Sources: Healthline, Scientific Reports, Cell, Journal of Experimental Biology, and Biorxiv.
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