Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others?

It always seems to happen to me.

I’ll be with a group of people on a nice hike and then mosquitoes find where we are.

Yet I’m the ONLY one that ever gets bit.

And mosquitoes will follow me around while others just sit there untouched.

I had to find the answer, so I did a little research.

So, why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others? Some people produce more chemicals (like lactic acid) in their bodies that attract mosquitoes. Your blood type and metabolic rate (amount of CO2 your body releases) play a huge factor in which targets mosquitoes select as well.

I go into a bit more detail below and also talk about ways to keep those pesky insects away from you.

Check it out!

Why Do Mosquitoes Like Me More Than Other People?

There are quite a few factors in play when it comes to what mosquitoes are attracted to.

And unfortunately, there’s not too much you can do to change them since they’re mostly genetic.

Chemicals in your skin

You see, your body creates quite a few different chemicals in our skin.

Some, like ammonia and lactic acid, turn your body into a mosquito magnet.

Since everyone is different, everyone produces different amounts of these chemicals in their skin.

And there’s not too much you can do about this aspect of attracting mosquitoes, unless you’ve found a way to alter your chemical makeup.

This one unfortunately can’t really be changed and is just like what grandma always said: the mosquitoes bite you because you taste sweeter.

Do mosquitoes prefer a certain blood type?

Actually, yes.

Studies show that mosquitoes are most attracted to those with type O blood.

Second place (if you want to call it that) went to those with A type blood.

You can find the super complicated study here, but basically when it came down to it mosquitoes landed on humans with type O blood significantly more than those with any other blood type.

Stop breathing so much!

Your metabolic rate, or the amount of CO2 you release as you burn energy, actually contributes to mosquito attraction.

Those with a higher metabolic rate attract more mosquitoes.

And that’s simply because that’s one of the main ways those pesky little insects track their blood donors.

It’s quite effective for them (and a bummer for us) since all vertebrates produce carbon dioxide.

And again (this is turning into a bummer post but I promise it gets better), not too much you can do about it.

While proper diet and exercise can help reduce your metabolic rate a little, there’s only so much you can approve upon.

The other bad news?

A lot of things contribute to a higher metabolic rate, such as:

Pregnancy
Obesity
Exercise
Drinking alcohol
Fever
Genetics

All of these can lead to expelling more CO2 and providing a beacon for mosquitoes to find you.

How Do You Keep Mosquitoes From Biting You?

With all of this talk about mosquitoes being attracted to our genetics, it seems that there’s not too much we can do.

Well, you’re in luck.

While the obvious is to use bug spray (which we’ll talk about a little later), there are some other factors that could help you fend off against these annoying little creatures.

Wear light colored clothing

This one is actually pretty interesting.

I mentioned before that mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 that we emit.

But, we’re not the only things that are releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.

Cars, decaying trees, and more things also release it.

So that means that mosquitoes rely on additional cues to let them know what a good target is.

One of them is through sight.

But since mosquitoes tend to fly low to the ground, they spot you by comparing your silhouette with the horizon.

Dark colors actually stand out when doing so, so it’s best to wear lighter colors to ‘blend in’ with the horizon.

Avoid hiking around dawn and dusk

As the winds die down, mosquitoes are able to move around more freely.

That usually happens around dawn and dusk.

To avoid getting bit, try to set up camp a little earlier and leave slightly later.

Screen houses are your best friend

I wrote about these in my list of favorite car camping gear.

Screen houses are awesome, especially when you are camping in places like Florida (where I live and do most of my camping).

They allow wind to pass through, so they’re often much cooler than a tent.

And the screen itself is small enough to not let any mosquitoes fly in.

They add a little extra to your camping gear, but make a world of difference!

Cover your body with clothing

Not only does light colored clothing help keep mosquitoes at bay, so does long sleeves and pants.

Worried about the heat?

There are some great options out there designed for maximum airflow that will still protect your body from being bit.

Crazy enough, there is actually a whole market for mosquito repellent clothing that will keep you covered while repelling at the same time.

Cover your scent

Strong fragrances and soaps help mosquitoes track you.

Lay low by using unscented soaps.

Don’t skimp out on the shower just because you don’t want to use those fragrances though; mosquitoes are also attracted to your body odor!

Build a fire

Mosquitoes, and bugs in general, don’t like fire or any smoke it provides.

When you set up camp, get a fire going to repel any pests.

Limit the use of lights

While bugs don’t like fire, they are attracted to other forms of light.

Lanterns and flashlights become beacons for mosquitoes in the nighttime.

Try to keep the light usage to a minimum, especially when you are entering or exiting your tent to prevent any mosquitoes from coming inside.

Try to camp in dry areas

Just like at home where you’re supposed to get rid of standing water, mosquitoes thrive in standing water in the wilderness.

So try to camp in dry areas and stay away from any stagnant water such as ponds.

They become breeding grounds and will cause a nuisance for you and your fellow campers!

Mosquito Repellent FAQ’s

All of the methods above will do a pretty good job at keeping mosquitoes at bay.

But there is one that is used on pretty much every camping trip: repellent.

Let’s go over some things to look for, as well as ways to make use of natural repellents with these commonly asked questions.

What ingredients repel mosquitoes the best?

According to tests from Consumer Reports, products with DEET, picaridin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus were the leading ingredients for repelling mosquitoes.

When it comes to picaridin, however, you want to purchase a repellent with at least 20% of it.

The 5% picaridin repellent was found to perform poorly in their tests.

What is a natural mosquito repellent?

If you aren’t a fan of chemicals, you may be wondering what you can use instead of traditional mosquito repellent.

Well, you’re in luck.

If you prefer natural repellents, there are plenty to choose from, including lemon eucalyptus oil which was found to be nearly as effective as DEET.

The list includes:

Lemon eucalyptus oil (30% concentration works best)
Lavender
Cinnamon oil
Thyme oil
Citronella
Tea tree oil

These natural mosquito repellents have been used and work fairly effectively at keeping mosquitoes away.

Do citronella candles keep mosquitoes away?

Not likely.

While citronella itself works great to repel the pests, the concentration of citronella found in candles is often too low.

In most cases, citronella candles only contain up to 5% citronella.

A better way to repel mosquitoes in this way is to either use fans or set up a screen house to keep them out entirely.

Do insect repellent bracelets work?

Mosquito repellent bracelets have limited effectiveness.

While they typically work good at repelling in the immediate area around the bracelet, you’ll often find that you will still be bitten around your ankles.

Because of this, it’s best to use a better method for repelling.

How often do you have to reapply repellent?

This, unfortunately, is a straightforward answer.

Some repellents will last you nearly all day, while others last only about 2 hours or less.

And sweating or swimming can have effects on the length of effectiveness as well.

When applying repellent, it’s best to refer to the specific product instructions to make sure you are reapplying often enough to prevent any mosquito bites.