I'm a mosquito magnet and get bit all the time. But why? PR Newswire has some really interesting facts as to why mosquitoes bite, so I thought I'd share.
1. Your body temperature is slightly higher than other people's and mosquitoes like that warm body. It varies because of age, gender, and how much you move around. It can even go up when you eat spicy food.
2. Exercise raises raises your body temperature and makes you produce more carbon dioxide and lactic acid, which mosquitos love. They also like pregnant women, because their temperatures are higher and they produce more CO2.
3. Stress! Studies have shown mosquitos could be drawn to the hormones that come out in your sweat when you're stressed.
4. You haven't showered in a while. They're attracted to a specific type of bacteria and we tend to have more bacteria near our ankles and feet. So, that might be why they target that area a lot.
5. Clothing that's red, black and blue attract more mosquitoes than lighter colors like white and yellow.
6. Alcohol- It dilates the blood vessels in your skin, making it a little warmer for a while. They're also attracted to the ethanol that comes out in your sweat.