Why do mosquitos bite some more than others?

Answer 1

Mosquitoes are principally nectar feeders with only the females requiring a meal of blood. This is because the females require protein for egg development, and since the normal mosquito diet consists of nectar and fruit juice, which has no protein, most must drink blood. Males differ from females, with mouth parts not suitable for blood sucking.

The females of blood sucking species locate their victims primarily through scent. They are extremely sensitive to the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath, as well as several substances found in sweat. Some people seem to attract mosquitoes more than others. Empirical studies of mosquito bites suggest that the risk of being bitten follows an approximately negative binomial distribution. Being male, being overweight, and having type 'O' blood may increase the risk of being bitten. Mosquitoes can detect heat, so they can find warm-blooded mammals and birds very easily once they get close enough.

Tips on how to avoid mosquito bites:

1. removal of standing water
2. use of repellants

Mosquito repellents generally contain one of the following active ingredients: DEET, Catnip oil extract, nepetalactone, citronella, or eucalyptus oil extract. Often the best "repellent" is a fan or gentle breeze as mosquitoes do not like moving air.

Other popular methods of household mosquito control include use of small electrical mats, mosquito repellent vapour, and mosquito coil, all containing a form of the chemical allethrin. Mosquito repellent candles containing Citronella oil is another method to keep mosquitoes at bay. Some lesser known methods use the cultivation of plants like wormwood or sagewort, lemon balm, lemon grass, lemon thyme and the mosquito plant (Pelargonium) which act against mosquitoes. However scientists have determined that these plants are effective only when the leaves are crushed and used.

There are several widespread theories about mosquito control such as the assertion that Vitamin B, in particular B1 Thiamine, garlic, ultrasonic devices, incense, bats, purple martins and bug zappers can be used to repel or control mosquitoes. Whether these methods are effective at deterring mosquitoes or significantly reducing mosquito populations remains disputed. Moreover, some manufacturers of "mosquito repelling" ultrasonic devices have been found to be fraudulent.

Although bats can be prodigious consumers of insects, many of which are pests, less than 1% of a bat's diet will consist of mosquitoes; bats mostly feed on larger insects such as beetles. Bats are known carriers of rabies, so care must be taken if attempting to use bats to control insects. Similarly, bug zappers kill a wide range of flying insects including many beneficial insects as well as mosquitoes; bug zappers are not effective at controlling mosquito populations.

Some newer mosquito traps, like Coleman' Mosquito Deleto or The Mosquito Magnet emit a plume of carbon dioxide together with other mosquito attractants such as chemical scents, warmth, water vapor and sounds. By mimicking a mammal, these factors draw female mosquitoes toward the trap, where they are typically sucked into a net or holder where they collect. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, "these devices will, indeed, trap and kill measurable numbers of mosquitoes," but their effectiveness in any particular case will depend on a number of factors such as the size and species of the mosquito population and the type and location of the breeding habitat. The relative effectiveness of these newer mosquito traps is still being studied.

Simple remedy on mosquito bites:

The itchiness of mosquito bites is often treated with calamine lotion, which may have a soothing effect, although its effectiveness is not medically proven. Other insect bite relief sticks such as After Bite are commercially available. Oral or topically applied antihistamines, and diphenhydramine in particular, seem to be particularly good at relieving the itch. Among Australian school children, a popular home remedy for mosquito bites involves using a ballpoint pen to draw four arrows on the skin, at right angles to one another and each pointing at the mosquito bite. The indentations in the skin made by the pen seem to relieve itching, perhaps combined with a placebo effect. A similar remedy is to "hot cross bun" the visible site, by pressing in with your fingernail in an X shape. Another home remedy (of unknown origin, although it appears to be used in North America as well as Europe) involves applying a small amount of human saliva to the affected area. The saliva will dry, thereby cooling the area and providing some relief. As before, however, the placebo effect likely plays a role as well.

Answer 2

Body heat and Oder attract mosquitoes.

Answer 3

I'm not really sure, but I'm guessing it has to do with the type of blood we have. Mosquitos, I think, can detect heat and if your body heat is strong, they're attracted and more prone to wanting your blood. Correct me if I'm wrong about this and tell me the answer yourself.

Answer 4

well it could be the way some people smell not in a good or bad way. and mosquitos r also attracted to the collor blue more than any other color!

Answer 5

Mosquitoes are attracted to sweat and carbon monoxide, therefore people that breath hard and sweat are most likely to get bitten.

Answer 6

Midichlorians

Answer 7

your hormones. your body sends off different sents that are codes....mosquitos can sense the sents and some of them attact them. also it may depend on your bodywash and your colonge

Answer 8

only females bite us and suck our blood. there are A LOT of females around. and some females got young to feed and some are hungry and some just want bloood.

Answer 9

I have heard it is because some people have more iodine in their blood and they like that, I don't know if that's true.

Answer 10

some put off more carbon dioxide, which attracts them, if you eat alot of bananas that can attract them, and if you eat a lot of garlic that can too.