Mosquitoes Preying on You? Blame your Mom.

Genetics account for a whopping 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites, and certain elements of our body chemistry make mosquitoes swarm closer. It’s that time of year again, a time when the sound of hands slapping mosquitoes during the family barbeque is common. Why is it that mosquitoes are attractive more to one person than another? The answer comes down to two words: genetics and smell.

According to the Web MD, genetics account for a whopping 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites. Certain things in our body chemistry make mosquitoes swarm closer.

If one of your parents is a preferred mosquito meal, then you are most likely to be a mosquito’s next meal. There may be some characteristics in your blood that female mosquitoes think are helpful in making their eggs stronger and more fertile. Scientists are still looking more closely on this topic.

The clue to why pesky mosquitoes feed on some people more than others is also in the chemical attractants and subtle odors. Everyone emits these, but in different combinations. Recent research suggests that some people have unique compounds and mixtures that mask the “attractive” compounds that mosquitoes like. Such natural insect repellents have a very slight scent that people don’t notice, but that mosquitoes are sensitive to.

Mosquitoes lay up to 250 eggs at a time in standing water that will hatch in 7 to 10 days. If standing water is eliminated weekly, many mosquitoes will be kept from breeding. This will reduce the mosquito population around the house. Mosquitoes are known to carry diseases, not the least of which is malaria!

“Granted, mosquitoes are serious pests but there are measures that can be taken to prevent their abundance,” explains Chris Caire of DA Exterminating. “The most important preventive is eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.”

For more information, visit http://www.mosquito.org/.