Why is it that some people attract mosquitoes more than others? There are numerous factors involved, ranging from our scent to the amount of heat we produce to the color of our clothing. Sometimes, though, we can be targeted more because of our blood type.
Popular Blood Types
Out of the four blood types (O, A, B, and AB), those with Type O blood are the most appealing to mosquitoes, followed by Type B and Type A. In fact, Type O blood is targeted more than twice as much as Type A. Why Type O, though? Since different blood types secrete different scents, it can only be concluded that mosquitoes prefer the scent that those with Type O secrete.
85% of human beings are secretors: that is, they secrete their own specific blood type chemicals – known as saccharides and antigens – in their saliva, sweat, urine, etc. Non-secretors, regardless of blood type, are rarely bitten by mosquitoes.
Mosquito Prevention
You can’t change your blood type, so the next best thing in mosquito prevention is to keep them from being attracted to your scent. Mosquitoes like body odor, which is caused by the mixture of sweat with the bacterial colonies on our skin. They’re also drawn to those with a high amount of lactic acid on their skin. We secrete lactic acid after exercising and eating certain foods. Other secretions that prove irresistible to mosquitoes are uric acids and fatty acids. These all come from our bacterial colonies, which explains why mosquito bites usually occur on the feet, ankles, wrists, and hands.
The most important thing to do is wash your skin thoroughly. Be wary about using perfumes and other scents because these may prove just as attractive to mosquitoes. You could also go with the tried-and-true method of spraying yourself with insect repellant before going outside. If you’re hosting an event out on the patio, light some citronella candles to keep the pests away.
You can also treat the problem at its source and remove anything that might attract mosquitoes to your property. First of all, mosquitoes will migrate to areas of overgrowth, such as tall grasses, shrubs, and trees. They’ll even dwell in weed overgrowth. Taking care of your landscape is just one preventative measure. Another is to remove any areas of standing water, as mosquitoes can lay their eggs in places like swimming pools, rain collection systems, birdbaths, and flowerpots.
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If you need help in eliminating these pesky biting insects from your yard, our San Antonio, Texas Team here at MosquitoNix® is here to help!
