Why Are Mosquitoes Selective About Their Human Targets?
- 11 years ago
Do mosquitoes seem to love you more than anybody in the crowd? According to a group of scientists from the UK, it’s because your body doesn’t naturally produce anti-mosquito mojo.
Do mosquitoes seem to love you more than anybody in the crowd?
According to a group of scientists from the UK, it’s because your body doesn’t naturally produce anti-mosquito mojo.
There are some individuals who emit a sort of cloaking scent, masking the chemicals that typically draw mosquitoes looking for a meal.
Their findings came by having two subjects stick a hand into a mosquito-filled tank. The researchers noted which hand the insects preferred, and then wrapped the less popular option’s body in tin foil to collect their sweat for future analysis.
Even if you don’t have the inborn mosquito-repelling gift, there are a bunch of things you can do to keep the six-legged bloodsuckers – and the diseases they carry - at bay.
In addition to the ever-popular citronella, mosquitoes hate lavender oil. Plus, it smells better than the popular chemical repellants.
They’re also not fans of catnip. Studies carried out at Iowa State University showed catnip oil to be 10 times more effective than DEET-based products.
If topical solutions aren’t your thing, then just eat lots of garlic. It has the same effect on mosquitoes as it does on vampires.
Do mosquitoes seem to love you more than anybody in the crowd?
According to a group of scientists from the UK, it’s because your body doesn’t naturally produce anti-mosquito mojo.
There are some individuals who emit a sort of cloaking scent, masking the chemicals that typically draw mosquitoes looking for a meal.
Their findings came by having two subjects stick a hand into a mosquito-filled tank. The researchers noted which hand the insects preferred, and then wrapped the less popular option’s body in tin foil to collect their sweat for future analysis.
Even if you don’t have the inborn mosquito-repelling gift, there are a bunch of things you can do to keep the six-legged bloodsuckers – and the diseases they carry - at bay.
In addition to the ever-popular citronella, mosquitoes hate lavender oil. Plus, it smells better than the popular chemical repellants.
They’re also not fans of catnip. Studies carried out at Iowa State University showed catnip oil to be 10 times more effective than DEET-based products.
If topical solutions aren’t your thing, then just eat lots of garlic. It has the same effect on mosquitoes as it does on vampires.