Palscience

Do Mosquitoes prefer to bite specific people more that others? Do you think they can distinguish among group of people their favorite? Scientists say yes, and they are trying to crack the code behind why mosquitoes like some humans more than others.

Jerry Butler, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida, said “Mosquitoes do exhibit blood-sucking preferences”, he also added, female mosquitoes need your blood to develop fertile eggs. (Male Mosquitoes don’t bite people.)

Who Mosquitoes Like Best

1.People with high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on their skin surface attract mosquitoes.

2.People who produce excess amount of certain acids, such as uric acid.

3. Any type of carbon dioxide is attractive, even over a long distance. Larger people tend to give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes typically prefer munching on adults to small children.

4. Pregnant women are also at increased risk, because they produce greater-than normal amount of exhaled carbon dioxide.

Most of the mosquito repellents available on the supermarket shelves derive their effectiveness from chemicals. And the most popular type of chemical is (DEET), it protects people for around 5 hours. Another mosquito repellent is oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is available under the Repel brand name. Not satisfied from chemical repellents? Do want to avoid chemicals? Here are some alternative non-chemical based repellents ” soybean oil-based repellent was able to protect from mosquito bites for about 1.5 hours, citronella, cedar, peppermint, lemongrass, and geranium — provide short-lived protection at best. Oil of eucalyptus products, however, may offer longer-lasting protection, preliminary studies show.

Source - WebMD