# Do mosquitoes like some people more than others? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154 "2004-06-25T06:41:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/1 "2004-06-25T06:41:03Z")
I live and grew up in an area infested with mosquitoes nine months out of the year. As a little kid I remember mosquito bites being all over me if I went anywhere during the summer months. But at around ten they just started to ignore me especially if someone else was around to bite. In my backyard they will swarm anyone there but I never see them on me and I never get bitten unless I’m the only one there. My wife and I went for a walk to the park the other day and she was literally be covered in bites and mosquitoes making bites while I didn’t have a single bite. Is it possible that mosquitoes have preferences for different people? Could it be that I produce an offensive odor or chemical like a natural Off that makes me unappetizing? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/2 "2004-06-25T06:58:04Z")
Without any evidence I have to say YES! Those delightful little creatures can find me in a crowd and I will be the only one they bite. I did once read an article (nope, no cite sorry) that it was about blood type. I’m O negative and taste good. ---
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/3 "2004-06-25T07:09:16Z")
Makes sense I’m the opposite, AB positive. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/4 "2004-06-25T07:46:47Z")
I read a newspaper article many years ago that said they prefer skinny people and people who eat bananas. I put little faith in that article, but it’s a thought. ---
**Author:** ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/5 "2004-06-25T10:35:13Z")
They prefer certain people because of a combination of things. [Here](http://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/WestNileVirus/FactSheets/UnderstandingMosquitos.htm) are some attractants: > [@](#): > > Fragrances from hair sprays, perfumes, deodorants and soap can also act as an attractant. Certain chemicals in sweat also seem to attract mosquitoes. People who do not sweat appear to be bitten less. Mosquitoes are also attracted to heat including body heat. Dark colours capture heat and make most people more attractive to mosquitoes. ---
**Author:** ![Donovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@Donovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donovan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/6 "2004-06-25T11:39:29Z")
Do some people have an ‘immunity’ to mosquito bites? I had an uncle who would be standing outside while we were being swarmed with mosquitos, and he would just laugh at us, asking why were were so distressed. The thing was, he was COVERED with mosquitos, all engorged with blood. The bites never seemed to swell up or turn red, and he claimed that they never hurt or itched. I always wondered if this due to genes, the fact that he grew up and lived his life in minnesota, or if he was in serious discomfort and didn’t let on due to some ‘macho’ thing (although he wasn’t the type of guy to try to try to prove anything, and I don’t see how not being bothered my mosquitos would be some ‘macho’ thing). Anyone ever know someone like this or have any theories as to why this guy didn’t seem to be fazed by mosquito bites? ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/7 "2004-06-26T01:10:17Z")
**Donovan** , I’m one of those people whose reaction to mosquito bites has lessen over the years. A few of my colleagues have virtually no reaction. I work for Rutgers University Mosquito Research and Control Unit, and our consistent exposure to biting mosquitoes has had a similar effect on us as someone getting allergy shots. When a mosquito bites, various substances in the saliva sets off a reaction that results in a swollen area (wheal) and itching. Sometimes that wheal will get a tiny amount of fluid in a small blister. These reactions are actually two-fold. The saliva components trigger an initial immunoglobulin reaction (IgG and IgE), and later on, a cell-mediated (lymphocytes/T-cells) response. Our physical discomfort is the outward expression of our body’s attempt to isolate and get rid of the offending mosquito spit. Repeated exposure to the bites will, for many people, result in a lessening response. Certain types of antihistamines will also reduce reaction (Cetirizine, but not loratadine: Reunala T, Lappalainen P, Brummer-Korvenkontio H, Coulie P, Palosuo T. 1991 Cutaneous reactivity to mosquito bites: effect of cetirizine and development of anti-mosquito antibodies. Clin Exp Allergy. 21:617-22). If you’re lucky enough to get this reduced reaction, but don’t get bit for quite a while, you’ll lose this benefit. Very rarely, individuals can have severe reactions, much like someone with anaphylactic reactions to bee stings. When I first started working at Rutgers, my reaction to mosquito bites was pretty much normal - they itched like crazy. The wheals would last several days. Now, they might last less than an hour, if they arise, and the itching is minor. However, something I’ve noticed is that this varies by species. Last night, several of us went out to catch bullfrogs for a study on frog-mosquito interactions. We got hammered by the Cattail Mosquito, _Coquillettidia perturbans_, and I had a mild reaction to their bites. When I’ve collected the Saltmarsh Mosquito, _Ochlerotatus sollicitans_, I was okay for the first few minutes, but soon I’d feel a little feverish. By the time we got to the next place to collect from, I was okay. On the other hand, when I donate blood to _Ochlerotatus cantator_, all bets are off. I react like the sensitive flower I am. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/8 "2004-06-26T02:10:29Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Without any evidence I have to say YES! Those delightful little creatures can find me in a crowd and I will be the only one they bite. > > I did once read an article (nope, no cite sorry) that it was about blood type. I’m O negative and taste good. Mosquitos love me like crazy and I’m O- also! That would be interesting if it was why … ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/9 "2004-06-26T02:32:24Z")
Me, my dad, and my brother all sat around talking outside next to a river all night last weekend. They were complaining about mosquito bites all night and absolutely covered in them the next day. I got bit once and it didn’t even leave a mark or itch at all. It’s been like this all of our lives. They’re A+ but I don’t know what blood type I have. I also weigh much less than either of them. ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/10 "2004-06-26T10:24:28Z")
Ah. the importance of the cite, aeropl Quote “People who do not sweat appear to be bitten less.” I read your cite. What I didn’t get is what kind of human doesn’t sweat. I am aware that there is a medical condition that interferes with perspiration but I have yet to meet a person so afflicted. I submit you re- assess your position and find a scource that understands mammilian biology, then re- post. Naw just yankin. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/11 "2004-06-26T23:03:00Z")
> [@EvilGhandi](#): > > What I didn’t get is what kind of human doesn’t sweat. I’m thinking the kind that’s sitting in the shade, with a cool one, watching the neighbor push a manual lawnmower. 😉 I am curious about the possible mosquito preference of blood type. I haven’t heard of this, so I went on a little search. Now, on Google, I came across a number of threads where people mention the knowledge of the same phenomenon, but nothing to trace back to an original study. And when I went to search through the university’s indices (Biosis, Agricola, PubMed, CAB) on the words “mosquito” and “blood type,” I came up with nothing, nada, zilch. On thinking about this, it struck me as odd since I would have thought SOMEONE would have looked at this in terms of host preference. If anyone has any more information on this, I’d love to hear about it! ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/12 "2004-06-27T00:05:27Z")
Garlic and the B vitamins repel mosquitoes. Eat plenty of garlic and get your Bs. Don’t ask for a cite because I don’t have one. Just something I’ve read years ago. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mosquitoes-like-some-people-more-than-others/252154/13 "2004-06-27T00:09:06Z")
I think that mosquitos like sweet blood. They need sugar and the sweet blood provides both the blood and the sweets that they need to survive. I do not eat anything sweet because I am diabetic and the mosquitos do not bother me.