Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?
Scientific research explains that mosquitoes are attracted to specific human biological markers, including carbon dioxide, body heat, and skin odors. Factors such as pregnancy and metabolic rate can make certain individuals more susceptible to bites than others.
Why it matters
Understanding the biological mechanisms of mosquito attraction is essential for personal health protection and the development of effective pest control methods.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Katherine Wang Alamy Mosquitoes identify victims via a cascade of cues, including skin and breath odours (Credit: Alamy) Long before they land, mosquitoes are reading our body signals from afar. Find out if you feature high on the bloodsuckers' hit list.
No matter where in the world I go on summer holiday, one thing is certain: I will inevitably be bitten by mosquitoes. Massive, itchy welts that plague me for weeks.
Meanwhile, others who are with me don't suffer at all. Not a single bite. And those that are bitten, are often left with just a tiny red dot. My friends have long joked that my blood must be "alluringly sweet".
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