Why do mosquitoes find some people irresistible? The unbelievable reason lies in your skin

Scientists discover the way you sweat largely affects a mosquitoes taste for you.

Twenty percent of all humans are more prone to being bitten by mosquitoes; 85 percent of the reason why is based on our genetic makeup, says Craig Benzine, the presenter in a video produced by Mental Floss. Sweating, body temperature, bathing and blood type all contribute to how people attract mosquitoes, as a certain combination of genetic traits and scent makes them more vulnerable. Even being tall or fat is also part of the risk, while Japanese and French studies say drinking beer adds to the appeal.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) -  While participating in physical activities, lactic acid is excreted by our skin pores which attracts the mosquitoes. However, the amount excreted varies from person to person.

It is said that outdoor exercising, rather than indoor exercising, produces more lactic acid.

Uric acid and octenol also lure the "nasty" insects. Both uric acid and octenol are also found excreted from sweating, while the latter is also present in breath.

Keep a rosary always within your reach. Find the perfect rosaries for home, work and parish.

The higher the body temperature, the more a person is prone to the insect bites, according to Benzine. That is why more people are bitten by mosquitoes after working-out - combining sweating and the heating up of the body.

Because this insect is more attracted to the scent of old sweat, bathing frequently helps lower the risk of being bitten. Benzine stated the malaria-carrying mosquitoes are "attracted to sweat that's been sitting on the skin for more than one day."

The study says people with Type O blood are twice as likely to be bitten than those with Type B, while people with blood Type A are the least popular for mosquitoes to feed on.

Meanwhile, in the two studies conducted in Japan and France, research found that people who drink beer are bitten more than those who don't, but the changes in temperature and scent brought by other alcoholic drinks were not observed.

According to world mosquito expert Dr. James Logan, larger people attract more mosquitoes due to the larger amount of calories they tend to burn causing higher body temperature.

This is also observed among tall people, considering they are bigger and with more carbon dioxide to produce than the average. It is said that the presence of carbon dioxide makes us more noticeable to this insect.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online