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Mosquitoes are a nuisance to everyone, but some people are a little more bothered by them. When they see a naked part of someone’s body, they immediately jump to suck blood. But some people are bitten more by mosquitoes and what is the science behind it? Maybe body odor has something to do with it.
According to NDTV, a study by researchers at Rockefeller University published in the journal Cell in 2022 found that people with high levels of certain acids on their skin are 100 times more attractive to female Aedes aegypti (a type of mosquito). The bites of this mosquito spread diseases like dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika.
The researchers collected natural scents from people’s skin using nylon stockings on their arms. The stockings were then cut into two-inch pieces and placed behind two separate doors where mosquitoes were flying.
According to Leslie Voschel, one of the researchers in the study, the mosquitoes were particularly attracted to one sample, which was called ‘Subject 33’.
“Subject 33 won 100 games. He was completely unbeatable. Nobody killed him,” she said.
Leslie Voschel said that chemical analysis has shown that ‘Subject 33’, or highly attractive individuals, produce significantly more carboxylic acids in their skin secretions.
However, it is not yet clear why mosquitoes are specifically attracted to this chemical. Since mosquito-borne diseases affect about 700 million people each year, this research could provide guidance on which skin odors are most important to mosquitoes and help repel them.
