Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
September 04, 2022
We sometimes speak of “mosquito skin” when some people are literally devoured by these flying insects. But for what reasons do they get bitten (so much)? attempts at explanation.
Who says summer and high heat, says mosquitoes. These flying insects often attack at night and feast on their chosen targets…. While others escape unscathed. But why do some people always seem to be victims of stings? Response elements.
Sweat, microbiota, carbon dioxide: what roles do they play in attracting mosquitoes?
Several studies have looked at why mosquitoes bite us. And the factors seem to be numerous: body odor, body color, temperature and texture of the skin, microbes living on the skin, pregnancy, exhaled carbon dioxide, alcohol, type of diet…
Carbon dioxide
A study thus suggests that the higher the production of CO2, the greater the attraction.
“Individuals with greater body mass appear to be more attractive to mosquitoes and midges, which may be related to other characteristics such as increased surface area and CO2 production“, write its authors.
In addition, pregnant women would expel more carbon dioxide and moisture in their breath, which would help mosquitoes to spot them.
Lactic acid
Other work, published on the Springer Link platform, has identified lactic acid (a substance naturally produced by the muscles during intense muscular exercise and present in sweat) as “attracting” to mosquitoes.
Microbiota
The microbiota – a set of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, fungi) that populate our intestines – would also have an effect on flying insects. Indeed, individuals who have “a higher microbial diversity (…) would be less attractive to mosquitoes and can therefore receive fewer bites”, underlines another study.
Blood groups
Finally, in 2004, a team of scientists noted in the journal Journal of Medical Entomology that people belonging to blood groups A and O were more likely to be bitten by these pests than those of group B.
The reasons that lead mosquitoes to bite a particular person would therefore be many and varied.