By what characteristics do mosquitoes choose their victims and why?

Why do mosquitoes choose you? Scientists reveal the secrets of blood-sucking insects' "taste preferences"

Have you noticed that mosquitoes literally attack some people while completely ignoring others? This is not a coincidence or your paranoia. As researchers have discovered, these annoying insects have an entire system of criteria for choosing the ideal "victim," including smell, body temperature, skin chemical composition, and even blood type.

One of the main factors is carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes can detect it from a significant distance, and the more intensely a person emits it, the more they attract the blood-suckers' attention. People with fast metabolism or those engaged in physical activity breathe deeper, releasing more CO₂, which makes them particularly attractive targets.

Equally important is skin odor. Mosquitoes unerringly detect molecules of sweat, fatty acids, and amino acids. The chemical composition of skin is unique to each person, and certain combinations of smells act like a magnet for mosquitoes. They are especially attracted to lactic acid, which the skin actively secretes after physical exertion.

Blood type also plays a significant role. Scientific studies have confirmed that people with type O blood are attacked by mosquitoes much more frequently than others. Surprisingly, mosquitoes can determine blood type from skin secretions even without contact with sweat.

Body temperature and skin moisture are another important criterion. People with higher skin temperature and active blood circulation appear particularly attractive to mosquitoes. This is why pregnant women, who have elevated body temperature and increased volume of exhaled CO₂, often suffer from bites much more than those around them.

Interesting fact: mosquitoes more frequently attack people in dark clothing. Dark silhouettes stand out better against the sky, making them more visible to insects, especially in the evening hours.

It's important to note that only female mosquitoes feed on blood, and they don't do this out of gastronomic preference, but to obtain proteins necessary for egg production. For them, choosing a suitable "victim" is a matter of successful reproduction.

Understanding the mechanisms by which mosquitoes choose their targets allows us to protect ourselves more effectively from their attacks - by wearing light-colored clothing, limiting physical activity in the evening, and using repellents that mask the natural odors of the skin.