Why Mosquitos Love to Torment Some of Us More Than Others

Ever wondered why mosquitos seem to love biting some people, while completely ignoring others near them (I do, every damn day during the summer)? It’s either the bacteria that builds up on your skin because your sweat has “incubated” for a day or two, or because genetics.

In other words, according to Alternet via Salon, having good hygiene won’t help some of us:

Yet another component of human odor is genetic. Although some theorize that individuals mosquitoes find unattractive simply produce less in the way of attractants, an alternative theory asserts that they produce components that interfere with mosquitoes’ ability to find their hosts. In fact, a 2008 study identified five such chemicals produced by humans found unattractive to mosquitoes.

So for those of us who are doomed to have that “sweet blood” that mosquitos love, we can coat ourselves in natural remedies like lemon eucalyptus to fight them off. This sounds much better than using 100% DEET bug spray and smelling like I doused myself in gasoline.