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Why do mosquitoes prefer biting some people to others? - Big Questions - (Ep. 26)
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Apr 25, 2025
A weekly show where we endeavor to answer one of your big questions. This week, "locked-up time lady" asks, “Why do mosquitoes prefer biting some people to others? Is there something we can avoid doing or do besides using repellent, like eat bananas?”
View Video Transcript
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Hi, I'm Craig. My grandmother was half mosquito, and this is Mental Floss on YouTube
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Today I'm going to answer Locked Up Time Lady's big question. Why do mosquitoes prefer biting some people to others
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Is there something we can avoid doing or do besides using repellent, like eat bananas
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Well, Time Lady, you're right that mosquitoes have preferences. 10 to 20% of people happen to get bit more than others
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And there are a few possible reasons for this, which I'm going to tell you about today. Let's get started
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Experts estimate that around 85% of the reason that mosquitoes prefer you is genetic, so you're pretty much born with it
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It's not your good looks. Sorry about that. Mosquitoes will especially come after you if you have the perfect combination of genetics and scent
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Bon appétit. There's also stuff on your skin that attracts them. You'll probably suffer more bites if you happen to produce more lactic acid, which comes from your sweat glands
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And in 1999, it was observed that mosquitoes who carry malaria are most attracted to sweat that has been sitting on skin for a day or two
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rather than fresh sweat. They'll also prefer you if you have more of these bacteria living on your skin
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People who have more of these will have less mosquitoes to worry about. Blood type might have something to do with it, too
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A 2004 study found that mosquitoes were twice as likely to land on people who were type O rather than type B Boy it would suck to be part of that study
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Type A was even less popular than type B. Plus, around 85% of us have a chemical in our skin
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that reveals our blood type. Mosquitoes go after those 85% of people more than the 15
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who don't secrete the chemical. People who produce more carbon dioxide when they exhale are also more likely to get bit. A mosquito can smell this, so it will go after them
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Larger people and pregnant women suffer most for this. Another interesting group that happens to get bit more often is beer drinkers
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This might be related to carbon dioxide production as well. People tend to breathe harder after drinking beer
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Or they might be a little warmer and nicer to land on. In your question you mentioned that eating bananas might help the mosquitoes go away
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That's actually a myth. Vitamin B12 won't work either. Experts pretty much recommend your standard old-fashioned bug spray, but some work better
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than others. Ideally you should use an insect repellent with around 24% of the chemical DEET
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As usual, it's all in the details. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry about that
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Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, made with the help of these lovely skeeters. If you have a question of your own, leave it in the comments below
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See you next week
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