horseflies and mosquitoes: are they attracted to some people more than others?

Question

I had heard once, a long long time ago, something about zinc and vitamin B levels in a person's blood as affecting a stinging insect's interest or disinterest in that person. Does anyone know any more about this?
I hate bugspray and am being eaten alive this summer, way way way more than anyone else I know-it's like the bugs all zoom for me first at any outdoor party or gathering. There must be something to it, but I don't know if it's my shampoo, my clothing color, or what. If anyone does know, please give a shout back. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I have noscientific evidence to back this up, but I would say there has to be something. My husband and I can both be outside for the same amount of time in the same place and neither wears bug repellent--I will get eaten alive; he won't have a single bite. My mom used to say I had "sweet blood" because I ate sweets. She was another one who never got bitten. Now I have heard that if you eat a lot of garlic or onions you won't get bitten because your body gives off that odor. My mom ate a lot of onions and garlic, plus she was a smoker, so that could be, but I still don't know why my husband is left alone. He doesn't eat onions or garlic, and he doesn't smoke.

Answer 2

Light skinned people seem to be bitten more often than dark skin people. Eating a lot of garlic tends to keep mosquitoes away. Zinc and Vitamin B I am not sure of. Clothing color matters too. White seems to attract them more than browns. I do not remember whether dark colors repel or attract.



Everyone is different. Some people have more of what ever body chemicals the insects are attracted to (I am not sure if there has been many studies on anything but Carbon dioxide but as a biologist I am convinced that the insects would use multiple clues to find their victims.



Another factor is exposure. The more you are exposed the less attractive you seem to be for them. However it can take a month or more of heavy exposure to make a noticeable difference.



BTW if you really do not like man made insect repellent you can try tick weed which is a common weed in the eastern US. Just rub some on and it will repel ticks and mosquitoes. Catnip also has a very potent insect repellent (It is now believed that is why cats like it so much).

Answer 3

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RE:

horseflies and mosquitoes: are they attracted to some people more than others?

I had heard once, a long long time ago, something about zinc and vitamin B levels in a person's blood as affecting a stinging insect's interest or disinterest in that person. Does anyone know any more about this?

I hate bugspray and am being eaten alive this summer, way way way more than...

Answer 4

I have the same problem, they eat me alive and don't go near my wife. I was told that they can smell good blood, after all they suck blood to make eggs (females only bite), and go after the best blood. I use an organic but spray made of plant oils and is none poisonous. I have tried different vitamins with out any help, I think it makes it worse. And eating garlic just keeps my wife away. Visit a good organic store and see if they have anything, also I have been told that Avon has a skin lotion that bugs don't like the smell of and it has none of the nasty stuff in it.

Answer 5

There are hundred of questions about the mosquitoes, and you can find thousand answers, or hundred best answers.

What I suggest you is:



write in the green line above ► [mosquito] ... and click the gray [search] . . . then see (click on) some questions.



The female mosquito choice its blood soup by the smell and the color. They like the feet odors. As the people diet changes the body odors, it changes the mosquito preferences. The mosquito repellent works in the opposite direction.

Answer 6

Yes you are totally right. Certain species of mosquito are particularly attracted to certain blood types. Me and my family went travel ling round the world for a year. In Canada, the mosquitos ignored me and went for my mum. She had about 50 bites, we had none. In India I was targeted. A visible swarm of bugs were always around me for my blood. Diet affects how your blood smells to animals as well as insects. Ever seen the film Holes? The lizards won't bite if you've eaten lots of garlic. Your blood smells gross to them. I guess when I was in India because I was eating differently to my mum and dad that affected what "ingredients" were in my blood and they were pretty tasty to the old mozzies.

Answer 7

What Attracts Horse Flies