There are more than 3,500 typesTrusted Source of mosquitoes, only some of which bite people. And it is only female mosquitoes that bite — they need blood as a source of protein for their eggs.
get it, they pierce the skin of their chosen host using their needle-like proboscis — resulting in a bite that may itch, swell, and even cause serious disease.
many countries, a mosquito bite is more than just an annoyance. From the malaria parasite transmitted by the Anopheles species to the viruses that cause yellow fever and dengue, mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of many of our greatest killers.
Even if you live somewhere where a bite carries no risk of disease, the high-pitched whine of a mosquito is an unwelcome noise.
The itching and swelling from a bite can last for several days. Scratching the itch may lead to infection and, for a very few people, an allergic reaction that could result in anaphylactic shock.
Another theory is that everyone gets bitten, but some people just fail to notice the bites because they do not react to them.
If there is no itching or swelling, perhaps they just assume they have not been bitten.
Dr. Khubchandani agreed that there might be something to this theory: “Anyone can be bitten by a mosquito, but our reactions may differ. This in part is dependent on the type of mosquito bite/ species, our immune system and our personality and behavior — whether we brush it off, or take the bite seriously.”
So, if you are one of those people that mosquitoes love to feast on, scientists still cannot tell you exactly why. Perhaps you give off more CO2, heat, or lactic acid, are blood group O, or have the “wrong” type of bacteria in your microbiome.
But do not just accept your fate. There are measures we can take to help stop mosquitoes from biting us.
One measure might be to wear light-colored clothes, as some studiesTrusted Source suggest that mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors. Light greens and blues may be best — as early as 1902, a study suggested that orange and yellow seem to repel the insects.
Use an insect repellent on the skin — natural ones, such as citronella, lemongrass, and mint, can be effective if a person does not fancy covering themselves in DEET.
Perhaps avoid beer — one small studyTrusted Source found that people who had drunk beer were much more attractive to mosquitoes.
If you have a garden, make sure it is free of standing water that mosquitoes can breed in.
Also check out your garden planting — strongly scented plants such as basil, lavender, lemon thyme, and marigolds may smell good to us, but mosquitoes will keep away from them.
And if all else fails, sit near someone who is even more of a bug magnet than you!
Another theory is that everyone gets bitten, but some people just fail to notice the bites because they do not react to them.
If there is no itching or swelling, perhaps they just assume they have not been bitten.
Dr. Khubchandani agreed that there might be something to this theory: “Anyone can be bitten by a mosquito, but our reactions may differ. This in part is dependent on the type of mosquito bite/ species, our immune system and our personality and behavior — whether we brush it off, or take the bite seriously.”
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