Why does a mosquito bite a person more compared to his neighbor?« Back to Questions List
Have you ever experienced more or less mosquito bites compared to the person sitting adjacent to you? The chances are high. Who do this tiny creature carry such a discrimination or a selective preference? The reason is simple; taste preferences of mosquitoes that they distinguish through smell differentiation.
You might have observed that when we rub some plant leaves on our skins, mosquitoes leave us without disturbing. The mosquitoes mistook us for some plants. Citronella works in this way. Some people say that garlic eaters suffer mosquito bites. Mosquito repellents also work by emitting peculiar smells that are unattractive to mosquitoes. As in the case of humans, mosquitoes may also have different preferences. That is why same mosquito repellent does not become effective against all mosquitoes. This reason has prevented discovery of perfect mosquito repellent.
Certain diseases like malaria are transmitted through mosquito bites. Hence scientists are carrying on with researches to pinpoint the specific reasons that attract mosquitoes to a particular person.
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