Mosquitoes, small but annoying insects, not only cause itching and discomfort but are also vectors for many dangerous diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis.
Especially in the summer, when outdoor activities increase, the risk of mosquito bites and disease also increases.
However, a common phenomenon is that in the same group of people, at the same location, some people are bitten by mosquitoes while others are completely "safe" without using any repellent. So what is the cause of this difference?
Some people have features that attract mosquitoes more than others (Photo: Getty).
According to Allan Bossel, an expert from the insect treatment company Bed Bug Exterminator (USA), each person's ability to attract mosquitoes depends on many different factors.
Breathing and body size
Mosquitoes are strongly attracted to the carbon dioxide (CO2) that humans release when they breathe.
“Some people give off more carbon dioxide when they breathe, and this is the main chemical that attracts mosquitoes like a magnet,” Bossel explains. “So if you are taller or heavier, your lungs will give off more of this gas, which attracts mosquitoes.”
This explains why people who are large or obese are more susceptible to mosquito bites.
Sweat and chemicals
Sweat is also an important factor that makes humans attractive to mosquitoes. "Lactic acid and ammonia in sweat are two substances that attract mosquitoes. If you have just run for 30 minutes and have not showered, you will become a mosquito magnet," Allan Bossel emphasized. This explains why people who have just exercised vigorously and sweated a lot are often "attacked" by mosquitoes more.
Blood type
One factor that is less obvious but has a significant impact is blood type. According to David Price, an entomologist, people with type O blood tend to attract mosquitoes and get bitten more than people with type A or B blood.
"Mosquitoes can detect a person's blood type through chemicals secreted on the skin. People with blood type O will be bitten more than people with blood type A or B, although in reality people with all blood types are at risk of being bitten by mosquitoes," said David Price.
He likens mosquitoes' choice of blood type to their choice of menu: when their favorite dish is not available, they will switch to other options.
Why do mosquitoes need to suck blood?
Interestingly, only female mosquitoes suck blood. However, they do not suck blood to sustain life but to obtain protein and essential nutrients such as iron, amino acids... to nourish and develop eggs in the body.
Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant sap, nectar, or juices from ripe fruit. Male mosquitoes do not suck blood at all.
Male mosquitoes never suck blood because they do not need to nurture eggs inside their bodies (Photo: Alamy).
In addition to humans, mosquitoes also suck the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Understanding the factors that attract mosquitoes, we can apply some measures to limit mosquito bites such as using mosquito repellent to cover up body odor, avoiding staying outdoors for too long in hot weather to limit sweating, or using mosquito traps to control the number of these harmful insects.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/vi-sao-mot-so-nguoi-lai-bi-muoi-can-nhieu-hon-nhung-nguoi-khac-20250715032215781.htm
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