Mosquitoes Prefer Certain Body Odors, Colors and Alcohol, Study Finds

Scientific research explains why some people receive more mosquito bites. Female mosquitoes are attracted to body chemicals such as lactic acid, ammonia and uric acid, as well as to carbon dioxide and body heat. The scent of sweat, certain skin microbes and the use of scented cosmetics can increase attractiveness.

Pregnant women and individuals who have consumed alcohol, especially beer, are also more likely to be bitten, likely because higher body temperature boosts bacterial production on the skin. A 2022 study showed that dark or bright colors like red, orange, black and cyan draw mosquitoes, whereas green, blue, violet or white tend to repel them. Evidence linking blood type O to higher bite rates remains inconclusive.