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| Teresa M. Clemons, Office Manager |
My
son and I are both “mosquito magnets”! We can be sitting outside with my
husband and the only ones getting bitten … are us! Bites
get better within a few hours for most people. But if you’re highly sensitive,
like we appear to be, symptoms can last for several days. With years of itching and
scratching, I wonder: why us?
Studies suggest that about twenty percent of people are "high attractor
types" who are especially appealing to the female mosquitoes seeking out
blood for the extra protein they need to lay eggs. There are 150
different species in the United States of these blood-sucking
creepy crawlers.
Is it the color of
our clothes? Could be. Mosquitoes have discerning fashion taste. Or at least,
they're more likely to spot you as a target if you stand out from your
environment. Dark colors, especially, will attract more of the insect.
Do we
squirm too much? Could be. The more you move, the easier you are to identify as
a living receptacle bursting with delicious blood.
Are we too hot? Could be. As
they get closer, it’s your body heat that draws the mosquito in.
Do we drink
too much? Could be. People are not sure how mosquitoes sense the presence of
ethanol, but drinking as little as one can of beer will significantly increase
the attention you receive from the pests.
Is it genetic? Could be. A very high
percentage of your susceptibility to mosquito bites has nothing to do with what
you're drinking or wearing, it's genetic.
The composition of your skin bacteria that naturally and healthily exists
can be the attractor, as can acid and other substances present in your sweat.
Is it the wrong blood types? Could be. People with blood type O are more prone to
mosquito bites, than those with type B, with type A folks bringing up the rear.
Picky little bugs, aren’t they?
Well, we fall into
most categories so, mystery solved…
