If you’ve ever suspected that mosquitoes are particularly “drawn” to you more than the next person, science has proven you could be right.
A combined team of scientists from Britain and America have determined that mosquitoes are attracted to certain people more-so than others, due to tiny microbes (or bacterias) which live on the surface of our skin.
“Female mosquitoes display preferences for certain individuals over others, which is determined by differences in volatile chemicals produced by the human body”, the study stated.
A brave pair of twins volunteered with this study. They were each bitten by mosquitoes the same number of times, when compared to other individuals. Matching DNA shared by each twin indicates there are genetic reasons why mosquitoes bite some people more than others.
“The results demonstrate an underlying genetic component detectable by mosquitoes”, scientists explained. This is “evidence that the likelihood of getting bitten is inheritable”.
The way we smell to mosquitoes can also determine whether we become a mealtime target. “Human odour is known to be controlled, at least in part, by genetic factors”, the scientists explained.
“It is possible that variation in our attractiveness to mosquitoes is also
modulated via the same mechanisms”.