Are mosquitoes attracted to certain blood types?
Why are mosquitoes so attracted to me? Why do mosquitoes not bite me? Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?
Your answers lie in the blood types mosquitoes prefer.
If you’ve noticed or wondered why mosquitoes seem to flock to you, they may find your blood group attractive.
This article seeks to make clarifications about mosquito attractions and whether blood group type plays a role in drawing them. This factor may be why mosquitoes bite some and not others.
Without further ado, let’s jump right into our discussions.
Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Me So Much?
Mosquitoes have always been viewed as disease-causing pests and truly so due to the varieties of diseases they can transmit. Of course, such diseases are mainly transmitted through their bites.
Now, some people tend to attract mosquitoes than others. A lot of reasons (both reliable and unreliable) have been given for such conditions.
Why Are Mosquitoes Attracted To Me?
It’s important, to begin with, a general look at primary attractions for mosquitoes. Apart from blood type (blood group), mosquitoes get attracted to your breath.
Speaking of breath, mosquitoes get attracted to high volumes of CO2. This is what humans breathe out every time.
These pests can pick up high CO2 concentrations from as far as 150 feet away. Their sensory or olfactory organs called palps are sensitive to smells of CO2.
Another attractant of mosquitoes to humans is your smell (especially when you sweat).
Mosquitoes get drawn to perspiration because additional substances get released such as ammonia, uric acid, and lactic acid. This is why mosquitoes flock to you more when sweating than when you aren’t.
However, this isn’t our focus. Our goal is to find out what blood type mosquitoes are attracted to.
Mosquito Blood Types and Their Attraction
Do mosquitoes have a preference for a blood type over others?
They do! According to scientific research, it was found that the type O blood group tends to draw mosquitoes than other blood types like A. What’s the reason for such attraction?
-
Mosquitoes And Blood Types
You’ll have to go into further details of studies on blood type attraction to mosquitoes to know more.
So, if you have blood type A, you should expect to attract mosquitoes twice as fast as people with other blood types like A. While this might sound scary, you only need to enhance your level of protection from these pests.
With this knowledge, you fully understand that you cannot be careless with your mosquito preventive methods.
Chemicals released from the body during respiration are linked to your DNA, and ultimately your blood type.
We’ve mentioned these chemicals above and pointed out that mosquitoes will easily find their way to suitable hosts once these are secreted through bodily sweat.
Rate of Metabolism Counts
The rates at which calories are burned in the body vary from individual to individual. This is also influenced by the level of activity being performed.
While this has nothing to do with the blood type, it’s necessary to consider it in our discussion. With higher metabolism comes increased carbon dioxide CO2 production.
Now, some people normally have high resting metabolic rates. Pregnant women have high metabolic rates as well. With this, it’s easy to see why mosquitoes find this group of people more attractive.
A combination of blood type O and a high metabolic rate will be the most ideal attraction for mosquitoes.
Blood Type O, High Metabolic Rate, And Dark Clothing
Why do mosquitoes like type O blood?
Since we’re discussing what mosquitoes want or find attractive, it’s necessary to look at a combination of certain conditions. All of these conditions tend to draw these pests to humans.
While we’ve confirmed blood type O and high metabolism rates as likely attractants, it’s necessary to have a broader view of all such attractions.
Clothing contributes to the attraction of mosquitoes. These pests are visual. Yes! You read that right. Mosquitoes tend to find lighter clothing less attractive than darker clothing or colors.
So, putting on dark-colored clothing while having blood type O and having a high metabolic rate is a sure combo that draws in mosquitoes in their numbers.
With all these conditions combined, you’re effectively a mosquito magnet. Having the right knowledge on what to do and what to avoid helps to significantly reduce mosquito presence around you.
You may want to wear lighter clothing during mosquito season when you’re outdoors.
Your Blood Group is Beyond Your Control
There’s nothing you can do to change your blood group. This is totally beyond your control. So, if you have type O blood, your best bet is to use such knowledge to guide your actions.
Actions here include what you put on, the level of exposure, and indoor treatments of mosquitoes.
By going out less often in the evenings during mosquito season, you’re safeguarding yourself from drawing these pests to you. The mosquito season slowly starts in spring and peaks in the summer.
If you should go out in the evenings, it’s necessary to use mosquito repellent products.
Such repellents have different application instructions.
For many of them, you only need to rub on the skin. By taking precautionary action, you’re safeguarding yourself and your family from the onslaught of these pests.
Does Having a Less Preferable Blood Type Mean I’m Safe?
Although we’ve focused more on blood type O as being the most preferred for mosquitoes, it doesn’t mean these pests won’t go after other blood types. Mosquitoes still bite people with other blood types apart from type O.
You’re still exposed to a lesser extent to mosquito problems.
It’s still necessary to protect yourself and your family from these pests. Family members may have mixed blood groupings. In other words, there might be those with type O and others with type A.
This is why it’s important to simply take broad-based mosquito control measures to safeguard everyone.
Prepping for Summer
As summer sets it, you should know that mosquito season begins. Going all out to keep these pests out of your home is the best preventive strategy.
Equally important is the need to keep yourself and your family safe when outdoors. Growing mosquito repellent plants around your home will be a great idea.
More importantly, you should consider removing mosquito breeding grounds from around your home. Ideal breeding grounds are those with standing water.
No matter how little the water is, it’s a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Have these dumped out and cut your lawns low.
Here, we’ve looked at blood type mosquitoes prefer. Blood type O tends to attract them the most.
It’s important to also conclude by saying mosquitoes will also bite people having other blood types.