Here's what makes you a prime target for mosquitoes
Study: Mosquitos are attracted to certain colors
A new study from the University of Washington shows mosquitoes might be attracted to one color in particular, which could mean bad news for you this summer season. Biology professor Jeff Riffell joins LiveNOW from FOX to explain how mosquitoes use their super-senses to find their food.
As conditions outside continue to get warmer ahead of the summer months, swarms of mosquitoes are set on putting a damper on this season’s fun.
And, according to insect experts, certain factors can make a persona a prime target.
Are mosquitoes attracted to certain people?
According to experts, only female mosquitoes bite humans to get a "blood meal," deriving proteins from a person’s blood to produce their eggs.
Experts say that one mistake you don’t want to make, is thinking you only need protection if you’re going deep into the woods.
What they're saying:
If you're walking the dog two or three times a day, or just out in your yard gardening, you're as prone to mosquito bites and tick bites as you are if you're walking the Appalachian Trail," Eric Benson, an insect specialist at Clemson University, told FOX News.
According to specialists like Benson, mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of people’s body odor.
Are mosquitos attracted to type ‘O’ blood?
Dig deeper:
Previous studies have suggested that insects prefer people who type "O" blood. But some researchers say that’s debatable.
Benson added: "I wouldn't say that was really strong data."
Many experts also say mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide produced when a person exhales. People who exercise usually produce more, so the higher a person’s body temperature, the most delectable they may become.
This close-up photograph shows a mosquito on human skin in Montlouis-sur-Loire, central France, on October 21, 2022. (Credit: GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Pfizer, mosquitoes use their antennae and palps, the organs between their antennae, to detect the carbon dioxide and odor.
"That means people who have a high metabolic rate and emit more carbon dioxide, including those who are pregnant, working out, or drinking alcohol, tend to be more attractive to mosquitoes," Pfizer noted.
Clothing can also make an impact.
RELATED: New study suggests certain colors you wear could attract mosquitoes to bite
Benson said that "Mosquitoes tend to like the darker colors, and the darker colors probably also radiate more heat."
Lastly, it may just come down to your genetic makeup.
A 2015 twins study published in the journal PLOS One found that DNA may account for nearly 67% of mosquito attraction – similar to the levels at which height and IQ are considered genetically linked.
The study took two groups of female twins – one group of identical and the other fraternal – and had them stick their hands in Y-shaped acrylic containers that allowed mosquitoes to detect their odor. Researchers found that the identical twins, who shared the same exact genes, had more similar levels of mosquito attraction compared with the fraternal twin group.
How to get rid of mosquitoes
Experts say repellants can help mask a person’s scent.
"Really what it does is hide you from the insect finding you," Benson continued.
He said a person can also wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to minimize exposed skin.
Meanwhile, citronella candles can be helpful – if there are enough of them around.
"They're volatilized in the air and so for it to be effective, you have to have a certain concentration of those volatiles coming out," Benson added.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by FOX News, Eric Benson and Pfizer. This story was reported from Los Angeles.