CLAIM:
Some people get more mosquito bites because they exhale more carbon dioxide, produce more body heat and sweat (especially lactic acid), and belong to specific blood groups such as O or A. And that sugar intake influences mosquito attraction.
FACT:
Mosquitoes are attracted to a combination of cues, including body odour (especially lactic acid), carbon dioxide, heat, skin microbiota, blood type, and clothing colour. Individual variability, genetics, pregnancy, and environmental factors also influence bite likelihood. There is no robust scientific evidence that eating sugar increases mosquito attraction, though people with diabetes are at higher risk of complications from mosquito-borne diseases.
Ever wondered why some people seem to be bitten more by mosquitoes than others? In a viral Instagram reel by fitness coach and influencer Priyank Mehta, the debate on what really attracts mosquitoes to certain individuals has been reignited.
Do some people get bitten by more mosquitoes than others?
Researchers have long been curious about why mosquitoes seem to favour certain individuals. According to an older study published in 2003, kairomones produced by humans provide female anthropophilic mosquitoes with vital cues used in host-seeking for a blood meal. These chemical signals, primarily emanating from the skin, allow mosquitoes to orient themselves toward humans at close range. The study tested three binary chemical blends—L-lactic acid combined with either acetone, dichloromethane, or dimethyl disulfide—and found that these blends synergistically attracted laboratory-reared female Aedes aegypti.
Interestingly, at the emission rates used, carbon dioxide was not necessary to produce high levels of attraction when these chemical blends were present. The researchers noted, however, that these combinations mimic the same kind of attraction seen with human skin odours, emphasising the role of L-lactic acid as a base attractant in combination with other activators like acetone.
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Building on this, a 2014 study explored how mosquitoes integrate multiple sensory cues such as CO₂, heat, and human odours in their host-seeking behaviour. Researchers engineered Aedes aegypti mutants lacking the Gr3 gene, which codes for a carbon dioxide receptor. They found that without CO₂ detection, mosquitoes’ attraction to heat and lactic acid was diminished, yet not completely abolished. As postdoctoral researcher Conor McMeniman explained, “Relying on multiple sensory cues helps organisms make informed decisions about context-dependent behaviours. In the case of a female mosquito, this would allow her to accurately hone in on a human host to blood feed.” This study highlighted that mosquitoes do not rely on a single factor, but rather a combination of cues that increase their efficiency in locating humans.
Although it’s not clear why, research from 2018 suggests that mosquitoes tend to be more drawn to dark-coloured objects. As a result, people wearing darker clothing may experience more mosquito bites.
When it comes to sugar intake, there is no high-quality scientific evidence showing that eating more sugar makes mosquitoes bite you more. A related myth suggests that people with diabetes get bitten more often, but this is not true. However, individuals with diabetes are at higher risk of severe complications from mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue or malaria, due to weaker immunity and slower healing. For this reason, strict protective measures against mosquito bites are especially important for them.
A more recent 2021 review examined variability in human attractiveness to mosquitoes, confirming that it is influenced by a mix of human-related, environmental, and mosquito-linked factors. It noted that individual characteristics, such as pregnancy, infection with Plasmodium parasites, skin microbiota, genetics, and even diet, modulate the production and intensity of mosquito attractants. The review concluded that “some individuals are more attractive to mosquitoes than others, and this has an important impact on the risk of infection by pathogens transmitted by these vectors.” Environmental conditions, including humidity, heat, and wind, further interact with these human-derived cues to affect mosquito behaviour.
Harvard Health Publishing adds a practical perspective, stating, “Some people are inherently more attractive than others to mosquitoes. Scientists are still figuring out why, but it's believed that each person's unique scent — dictated by an array of molecules throughout the body — determines whether mosquitoes 'like' them more than others.” Other factors, such as blood type and breathing patterns, also seem to play a role, type O blood and heavy breathing, which produces more carbon dioxide, appear to attract mosquitoes more.
How to avoid mosquito bites
To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, a combination of personal protection and environmental management is most effective. Using mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or 2-undecanone can significantly lower the chances of being bitten, but it is important to follow the instructions on the product label carefully. Some repellents are not suitable for young children, such as DEET for infants under two months and oil of lemon eucalyptus for children under three years. Repellents should be applied only to exposed skin, avoiding the eyes, mouth, and any cuts or rashes, and should be washed off with soap and water after returning indoors.
Clothing choices can also make a difference. Wearing long sleeves and pants in light colours reduces exposed skin and makes it harder for mosquitoes to land. Fragrance-free personal care products can help minimise attraction, and running a fan, particularly around the feet and ankles where mosquitoes often gather, can further discourage bites. Environmental measures are equally important. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, so minimising outdoor activities during these times can help reduce exposure. Preventing mosquitoes from entering homes by ensuring window and door screens are intact, and using mosquito netting while sleeping outdoors or in mosquito-prone areas, provides an additional layer of protection. Finally, eliminating standing water from containers such as flowerpots, buckets, or wading pools disrupts mosquito breeding, helping to control their population and reduce the overall risk of bites.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.
