Physical Wellness

Five Things You are Doing to Attract Mosquitoes

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Jul 15, 2013 10:29 AM EDT

Although people often welcome the summer with open arms as they make their way down to beaches and festive outdoor gatherings, one thing people surely do not miss is the return of the mosquitoes. These little pests often fly around unnoticed until they leave several red and extremely itchy bite marks. These bites take a few days to heal, days that start to feel like weeks once the itchiness begins. For some people within a group, however, they are fortunate enough to have avoided the nasty sting of a mosquito. According to Smithsonian Magazine, these people avoid the bloodsuckers not because they are lucky every time, but rather, because they are just not the mosquitos' cup of tea. The magazines reported five reasons why some people might be more desirable to eat than others.

Alcohol

Based on a previous study, the amount of alcohol one drinks can affect how delectable one is to a mosquito. This study found that one bottle of beer can make a person more appealing to insects. Next time you are planning to head out to an outdoor party, remember to slather on the bug spray.

Pregnancy

Even though being pregnancy comes with its own list of discomfort, ranging from swollen feet to nausea, studies have found that pregnant women are two times more likely to be bitten by a mosquito. Experts believe that this increased chance is due to the fact that pregnant women are generally one-degree warner and exhale 21 percent more carbon dioxide.

Blood Type

Although we all know that mosquitos love blood, there are certain blood types that just taste better. For people with Type O blood, they are twice as likely to get bitten by a mosquito when compared to people with Type A blood. Experts believe that the risk factor for people with Type B blood lies somewhere in the middle.

Exercise Level

Working up a sweat can increase one's chances of getting bitten by a mosquito. When the body produces sweat, it also increases the levels of lactic acid in the sweat, which attracts mosquitos.

Clothing

Lastly, clothing can affect the likelihood of getting stung. According to an entomologist, wearing black, red and navy attracts mosquitos.

Although these five risk factors might be unavoidable in some cases, it is important to turn to a simple can of bug spray if you want to avoid scratching your body all day. 

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