Exercise and Sweating Make You Attractive
@GardenGerty (161216)
United States
April 4, 2016 11:28am CST
Have you ever wondered why mosquitoes like some people more than others and others get more bites?
I always assumed they just did not like me. I had always heard taking B vitamins repels them. It is something that I do take, all the time. I do not have as many bites, and when I do get bitten they do not swell up in welts.
I do not really want to be bitten though. Mosquitoes carry West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever and Zika Virus as well as many other things.
I was also always told that the more sugar you eat, the more you attract mosquitoes and flying insects that bite.
Well, according to things I read last night, those are not the reason for mosquitoes to bite and be drawn to us.
They are drawn to the combination of bacteria on our skin. Bacteria that come from sweating. I guess I do not get bit as often because I am too sedentary.
Sweating and exercise make you attractive to mosquitoes.
32 people like this
36 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Apr 16
@GardenGerty I would much prefer to have all mosquitoes eliminated from the planet.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
4 Apr 16
Those b complex are supposed to help a lot. Take your vitamins.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
@Asylum I will put that on my to do list.
1 person likes this
@WilmaHenry54 (355)
• Stanton, Kentucky
4 Apr 16
No wonder they love to bite me, I sweat profusely even without exercising!
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
4 Apr 16
We will have to see how it is since I moved this year. I have noticed i sweat a lot, though.
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
4 Apr 16
I had heard type O blood, but I am not sure how much we really know.
2 people like this
@youless (112621)
• Guangzhou, China
5 Apr 16
@GardenGerty I think it may be type B blood since I am this kind of person who attracts the mosquitoes
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
@youless I know, when I read O I thought it was a mistake as I am a type O and they seldom bite me.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
That makes sense to me as everything needs water to survive.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
5 Apr 16
I have to wear bug spray or I get eaten alive sadly
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I have had good luck using lemon grass essential oil. I put it on a hat band and I have a garden shirt that I put it in the collar and on the sleeves.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
5 Apr 16
@GardenGerty hmm, might have to try that, texas mosquitoes are HUGE
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
@sallypup but we keep one in reserve in case someone asks.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
The smell and the heat let them know where to find you.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
4 Apr 16
They also detect carbon dioxide to find their prey, and if you are exercising you are breathing a lot harder, which means you are swirling out more carbon dioxide to help them find you.
Mosquitoes don't actually eat blood though. They just need it for their developing eggs. Instead they eat flower nectar. Unfortunately they breed all the time, so they might as well be eating it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I am or have been fortunate to be unappealing to them most of the time. Two years ago it was different and I attracted them and broke out badly from the bites. I also hear that in addition to carbon dioxide the heat attracts them
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
5 Apr 16
@GardenGerty They are just attracted by every thing we do, unless we put those sound devices around us, but even those don't help out for long.
1 person likes this
Say what? Now that's interesting.@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
It is something to observe and collect the data for as it relates to you.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33394)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
5 Apr 16
@GardenGerty Thanks for letting me know Gerty. I don't like getting bug bites at all. 
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
4 Apr 16
I read that they prefer people with the blood type O {+ or -, they're not that fussy!} ... Maybe nobody really knows what goes on in a mosquito's head.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
Last night I read O, but that is my type and they do not come after me. @youless has been told it is type B that they like.
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
5 Apr 16
@GardenGerty I'm O+ and anything that sucks blood absolutely adores me. Except sexy vampires. My life is lacking in those. :)
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I see lots of people with this same experience. Some people are just tastier regardless.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I think I also read that you are hotter when exercising and they like you for that.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I know that perfumes definitely attract bees.
1 person likes this
@KuznVinny (768)
• United States
4 Apr 16
Actually, I think women are more prone to bug bites, especially tick bites, but also mosquito bites.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I always think of ticks as being very opportunistic and will hitch a ride on anyone.
1 person likes this
@KuznVinny (768)
• United States
5 Apr 16
@GardenGerty I'm not sure. At my house, I almost never get one, yet my wife and daughter and granddaughter were like a rare steak to a dog. I've often wondered if it has to do with hormones.
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
4 Apr 16
Yeah, I thought of that as an excuse.
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15727)
• Canada
4 Apr 16
In our household, I lucked out lol. They tend to ignore me and go after my husband! I wonder if different blood types attracts them too??
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
4 Apr 16
It depends on where you read. I have type O which is supposed to be the most attractive, but they really do not go after me.
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
4 Apr 16
Is it true that they do not target you as much? like that article says?
@Marilynda1225 (83234)
• United States
4 Apr 16
My mother always said that mosquitoes would bite those with sweet blood. Guess it's an old wives tale
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
4 Apr 16
I had understood from some things I read that the more processed sugar you eat the more they liked you, and some articles say that.
@madcrochetlab (275)
• United States
4 Apr 16
I often wondered why when I was outdoors with either my sister or my husband that they would get eaten alive while I remained relatively untouched by mosquitos. But now I can say I'm happy that "somebody" doesn't consider me attractive. LOL. It's certainly not much incentive to be more active!!!!! 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
5 Apr 16
Certainly it is a reason to do what you can to not smell attractive to them or offer them a good target.
1 person likes this
