Mosquitoes are some of the most significant pests on the planet. They prey on peaceful sleepers and unaware individuals alike. But what if you knew how to stay off of their radar? It might be hard to believe, but these insects target some people more than others.
The biggest thing that mosquitoes look out for is carbon dioxide. The bigger the person, the more they exhale. This means that adults are targeted more often than children. But what about our clothing?
All About Clothing
Mosquitoes do see color. They have a preference for what their target is wearing, typically black. Some seem to like bright red clothing, too, so try to avoid going out in anything black and colorful.
Maybe look into getting some pastels in your repertoire. Earthy colors like browns, greens, and blues will reduce your chances of getting an irritating bite when you least expect it. But it's not just a visual stimulus. It's also their sense of smell.
How Do You Smell
Mosquitoes also have a preference when it comes to the way people smell. They prefer certain people compared to others just based on their scent. Allegedly, alcohol can make a massive difference in how like a mosquito is to dine on you.
Try drinking less to make it less likely that mosquitoes will target you. However, a study showed that mosquitoes would drastically target some people above others based on their smell, but the results were inconclusive.
The Results
The study's results couldn't identify which stocking belonged to which person. However, it became apparent during the procedure that there were no minor distinctions between people. One sample, from a Subject, attracted mosquitoes 100 times more than the sample with the lowest attractiveness.
Chemical testing revealed that the more beautiful stockings included higher levels of the family of compounds known as carboxylic acids, which human sebaceous glands produce. The bacteria and other germs on our skin likely affect this chemical profile.