Why do mosquitoes love some people and ignore others? Study found skin odour, bacteria responsible

While sitting in a gathering, a friend complains, “why do all these mosquitoes find me the most attractive? My blood must be too sweet!” Other friends, who are mostly unbothered by the swarm of mosquitoes, dismiss their claim yet the mystery remains. Why do mosquitoes only bother some people and ignore others? Mosquitoes are recognised as world’s deadliest animals transmitting vector-borne diseases including malaria, dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. Malaria alone accounts for approximately 610,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, according to the World Health Organization. This warrants for specialised reseach to prevent this public health situation created by these tiny creatures.For years, scientists have explored the reasons behind the discrepancy in mosquito bites. Body heat, carbon dioxide, blood type and even body odour have all been discussed as some of the possible explanations. However, a fascinating new study suggests that the answer could be influenced by preferences of mosquitoes. The study suggests that different mosquitoes may have different tastes in humans.No universal mosquito magnetA study titled ‘Individual humans are more attractive to certain mosquito species’ published in the journal iScience has challenged the popular idea that certain people are universally irresistible to mosquitoes. Researchers from Florida International University tested 119 human volunteers to understand how three mosquito species responded to different individuals.