4 ms·

I’ve always wondered this, so will ask here since it’s relevant: How certain are we that it’s a difference in whether or not someone is bit by mosquitos vs. wh

I’ve always wondered this, so will ask here since it’s relevant: How certain are we that it’s a difference in whether or not someone is bit by mosquitos vs. whether or not (or how) someone’s body reacts to a mosquito bite? I am a mosquito magnet, but my skin also deals with other oddness on occasion, plus I’m moderately allergic to a number of things. So part of me feels that may have some (more?) to do with it vs. that I’m bitten more. E.g. I’ll often find myself riddled with mosquito bites without even having realized I was being bitten. So I imagine it’s possible for non-magnets to also be bitten but just not have the same reaction.

disillusioned 4y ago
This specific study used samples of fabric rubbed in the skin oils of various people and then indexed which fabrics attracted the most mosquitos, most reliably, so while it may not be a guarantee that all mosquitos feed at the site they're most attracted to, I wouldn't think it's quite that big a leap... I imagine that they feed at the first known-good-human, generally speaking. They also specifically call out that there are "low attractor" humans who simply don't generate as much of the carboxylic acid compounds that the mosquitos were attracted to, and who may still be bitten, but were not he preference. People definitely react different to bites, though. I know plenty of people who don't really feel much of an itch, vs others for whom it's awful.
tlb 4y ago
In the paper, they’re counting mosquitoes that fly into a chamber containing odor collected from skin. They calibrated that against people sticking their arms in a mosquito box and counting bites as they happened. So bite response shouldn’t affect the result.
cookie_monsta 4y ago
I have had maybe 3 mosquito bites in my life, despite having lived large stretches in the tropics. Mostly they don't even land on me, but I have watched when they do - the closest they get to biting is lowering their proboscis until it touches skin. Then they fly off. I always assumed it had to do with skin odour, probably diet related. It's surprising that the science isn't more advanced on this considering how harmful/annoying mosquitos can be and how primitive the current countermeasures are.
clsec 4y ago
Anecdotally and IMO, I am definitely a mosquito magnet! Always have been and I'm sure I always will be. Not so anecdotally: I get massive reactions from bites that last a long time (sometimes months). For example: In my 20's I once went canoeing on the Russian river and drank all day. Since it was a hot day, I was pretty burnt out when my GF and I got back to our camp site late in the afternoon. Our site was probably about 200 yds from the river's edge and when we got back I pulled a sleeping bag out of the tent and laid down on it on the grass. I pretty much immediately fell asleep (drinking, heat) on top of the sleeping bag. I woke up a couple hours later after the sun had just set. I was covered in bites. For the next week or so I tried to count the bites and ended up settling on 107 mosquito bites! It took over 3 months for them to go away! Needless to say, I will never forget that experience and no one will convince me otherwise that I am not a mosquito magnet.

disillusioned 4y ago

This specific study used samples of fabric rubbed in the skin oils of various people and then indexed which fabrics attracted the most mosquitos, most reliably, so while it may not be a guarantee that all mosquitos feed at the site they're most attracted to, I wouldn't think it's quite that big a leap... I imagine that they feed at the first known-good-human, generally speaking. They also specifically call out that there are "low attractor" humans who simply don't generate as much of the carboxylic acid compounds that the mosquitos were attracted to, and who may still be bitten, but were not he preference. People definitely react different to bites, though. I know plenty of people who don't really feel much of an itch, vs others for whom it's awful.

tlb 4y ago

In the paper, they’re counting mosquitoes that fly into a chamber containing odor collected from skin. They calibrated that against people sticking their arms in a mosquito box and counting bites as they happened. So bite response shouldn’t affect the result.

cookie_monsta 4y ago

I have had maybe 3 mosquito bites in my life, despite having lived large stretches in the tropics. Mostly they don't even land on me, but I have watched when they do - the closest they get to biting is lowering their proboscis until it touches skin. Then they fly off. I always assumed it had to do with skin odour, probably diet related. It's surprising that the science isn't more advanced on this considering how harmful/annoying mosquitos can be and how primitive the current countermeasures are.

clsec 4y ago

Anecdotally and IMO, I am definitely a mosquito magnet! Always have been and I'm sure I always will be. Not so anecdotally: I get massive reactions from bites that last a long time (sometimes months). For example: In my 20's I once went canoeing on the Russian river and drank all day. Since it was a hot day, I was pretty burnt out when my GF and I got back to our camp site late in the afternoon. Our site was probably about 200 yds from the river's edge and when we got back I pulled a sleeping bag out of the tent and laid down on it on the grass. I pretty much immediately fell asleep (drinking, heat) on top of the sleeping bag. I woke up a couple hours later after the sun had just set. I was covered in bites. For the next week or so I tried to count the bites and ended up settling on 107 mosquito bites! It took over 3 months for them to go away! Needless to say, I will never forget that experience and no one will convince me otherwise that I am not a mosquito magnet.