You must have heard of what they call “sweet blood”, some people can swear that mosquitoes only bite them and leave other people. They are correct, there is actually a scientific reason behind this.

First of all, you should know that the female anopheles mosquitoes are the ones responsible for sucking blood. They do this because they need blood to grow their eggs. The males feed on the nectar of flowers.

Here are 8 reasons why mosquitoes might be attracted to some people and not to others

1. Color of your cloth

There is research that shows that mosquitoes are attracted to black colours, we do not know exactly why. So if you wear dark colors at night, mosquitoes might find you attractive.

2. You’re pregnant

Mosquitoes generally have been shown to be attracted to pregnant women than women who are not pregnant. Maybe this is because they release more carbon dioxide and have more body heat than others. Which brings us to our next point

3. Heat and Body Odor

Mosquitoes can smell some compounds from as far as 50 meters away. They are also attracted to heat as well as some compounds on our skin, compounds like uric acid, for instance, that is a product of protein breakdown can be very attractive to mosquitoes. In addition, some people have more steroids on their skin and sweat which can be very attractive to mosquitoes.

4. Carbon Dioxide

Similarly, mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide that we all breathe out. They can sense a change in the carbon dioxide concentration in an area and immediately move in. Although we all secrete carbon dioxide, some do more than others.

5. You just had alcohol

There was a small study done a while ago that showed that people who had just consumed beer were more attractive to mosquitoes than people who did not. The link to that study is here

It can be quite frustrating to be the brunt of mosquito bites and honestly, the irritation from the bite might be the least of your problems, infections like malaria should be at the top of your list.

For this purpose, here are some ways you can prevent mosquito bites

1. Use insecticide-treated nets
2. If you are going to be outside at night, wear long-sleeved clothing.
3. If you have torn window nets, repair them
4. Use ceiling fans and air conditioners, it reduces their activities
5. In addition, use mosquito repellents on exposed skin if you are going to spend time in the open
6. Remove any bushes around you
7. Ensure you do not have waterlogged areas around you, empty or cover barrels of water. That’s how they breed.
8. Finally, use insecticides indoors to kill any lingering mosquitoes

In conclusion, it is important that you prevent mosquito bites at all cost, especially in areas in tropical areas.