While some people are quietly enjoying outdoor recreation, others are literally being eaten alive by a cloud of bloodsuckers. Why do mosquitoes react differently to two people in the same place: they do not give rest to one, and they are not even interested in the other?
Some may think that the increased attractiveness for mosquitoes is a figment of the imagination of a bitten person who really dislikes insects. But studies of this phenomenon have shown that the interest of blood-sucking insects in individuals is not a fiction at all, and may be due to several factors.
Clothing color
As it turned out, mosquitoes closely follow fashion and prefer to fly on clothes of a certain color. Of course, we were joking about fashion, but bloodsuckers are really more attracted to people dressed in dark clothes.
Movement
If you actively move and wave your hands, it does not drive away insects, but, on the contrary, actively attract them.
Body heat
When a female mosquito is close to a human, the heat of the human body begins to serve as navigation for her. The sensitive organs of insects will detect even a minimal difference in body temperature, directing the mosquito to a warmer person. It turns out that you will attract more attention after exercise. Sick people and pregnant women, whose body temperature is usually higher than normal, also fall into the risk zone.
Carbon dioxide
Mosquitoes, using a special organ located next to the proboscis, can detect a source of carbon dioxide at a distance of 50 meters. All people exhale carbon dioxide during the natural process of breathing, but someone exhales more, and someone less. For example, the exhalation of a pregnant woman contains 21% more carbon dioxide than other people. But children will not attract the attention of mosquitoes so much, since they exhale less carbon dioxide than adults.
Alcohol consumption
Finally, good news for pregnant women: alcohol attracts insects very much, so women in the position will be able to breathe easy if there are people drinking next to them. It is not yet completely clear how blood-sucking insects determine the presence of alcohol in the air or blood, but according to observations, it is enough to drink 350 ml of beer to earn the close attention of numerous midges.
Skin Properties
Almost 85% of your attractiveness to mosquitoes and other intrusive insects depends on the properties of the skin. You can walk in white, breathe a little and not take a drop of alcohol in your mouth, but if the secretions from the glands on your skin contain a large amount of lactic and uric acid - be prepared for constant insect attacks.
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