Comments on: Mosquito Mystery Explained

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:47:51 +0000

I read in a Swedish science magazine a few years ago, and someone asked this very question.

The answer was that studies had been made and came to the conclusion that people in general have this kind of smell that repel mosquitoes but some people, like me, are missing that smell and when near a swarm or individuals of mosquitoes we get the bites first and most of them.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:10:33 +0000

I wish they’d find a definitive reason why some people attract mozzies and how to repel them. I am so allergic that I have to take antibiotics with me on holiday or I’ll get badly infected with blood blisters and a fever.

By: SimonSays

SimonSays — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:23:39 +0000

@Gauldar:

It does have a lot to do with CO2 too. That’s why often men attract more mosquitoes than women: they “exhaust” more CO2.

By: FishBottleT

FishBottleT — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:54:13 +0000

I am glad that some scientist is spending their time on this!! Its amazing the different things that can be researched!

By: Bzz On

Bzz On — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:09:16 +0000

Acronym, Definition;
BZ, Business.
BZ, Belize.
BZ, Busy.
BZ, Blizzard.
BZ, Bronze.
BZ, Bautzen (german auto license plate).

BZ, Benzene … Therefore I Am!!

Tee-hee.

By: D.D.

D.D. — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:55:32 +0000

Foreigner1 I’m the same way. I usually don’t even notice them when they are biting me; it doesn’t leave a bump or itch. I have not eaten meat in a long time. They will be swarming people all around me before they start to notice me. I’ll sleep fine with them as long as they aren’t near my ears.

I did try the eating a clove of garlic method a couple of times when I knew I would be around a lot of them. I just swallowed a clove like a pill. The next day I had garlic farts, then for 2 or 3 days after that, the mosquitoes wouldn’t come near me.

By: Foreigner1

Foreigner1 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:26:31 +0000

I find that if I eat more meat, mosquitos bite me more than when I eat more fruit. Something with the smellof my skin changes and that makes them react.

But where I live I couldn’t care less if they bite me half dead – as long as the do it silent without their buzzing around my ears in the middle of the night anbd just let me sleep. I’ll bother about the itch during daytime when I’m awake anyhow…

By: BDalton

BDalton — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:11:37 +0000

@halieus Your dad is a zombie.

By: halieus

halieus — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:29:55 +0000

My dad used to get bit by mosquitos like crazy Alaska. Then for some reason he became immune and they never bit him again. He could even put his arm out in a swarm. They would come and land, but no bites.

By: Gauldar

Gauldar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:16:10 +0000

I heard it was attraction to CO2, but I figured there was a lot more involved.

By: scaryman

scaryman — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:11:38 +0000

Based on an article I’ve read, I believe that mosquitoes are attracted by body heat. I’ve confirmed this by experience. When I am in a place where there were plenty of mosquitoes, they hover over my head where the heat from the lower parts of the body collect. The mosquitoes also go to parts of my arm and leg warmed by my blood..
Another factor that attracts mosquitoes, again based on my own observation, is sound. When I hum, the mosquitoes come to my face.