Are you the target of mosquitoes? Even when you are in a group, you are the one who attracts them all… There is a scientific explanation. We explain to you.
Your body heat
If you release naturally more heat, you are a perfect target for mosquitoes. The pregnant women, for example, have a higher body temperature. They are then bitten more. A spicy food also increases body temperature.
Your body odor (and sweat)
Mosquitoes are attracted to your body odor. In a study published in Current Biology in 2019, American researchers note that “mosquitoes use olfaction as their main means of detecting their hosts”. The mosquitoes love particularly the sweat after physical activity. Indeed, sweat contains lactic acid, uric acid and‘ammonia. These three substances attract mosquitoes.
Your skin’s microbiota
You can also attract mosquitoes because of the microbiota in your skin. The microbiota is made up of bacteria and microbiota. Researchers have proven that the Anopheles gambiae mosquito, native to Africa, chooses people with large amount of bacteria on their skin, but of low diversity. Their study was published in the journal Plos One in 2011.