Mosquitoes Prefer Certain Blood Types

If you've ever felt like a personal buffet for mosquitoes while your friends (Review) remain untouched, you can blame your unique body chemistry. These insects are sophisticated hunters that use a multi-step process to find a meal. From a distance, they are drawn to plumes of carbon dioxide, which is why people with higher metabolic rates or those who are physically active often attract more attention. This long-range signal tells a mosquito that a warm-blooded target is in the area, but it doesn't determine the final landing spot.

Once a mosquito gets closer, a more complex set of short-range cues comes into play. This is where genetics heavily influences your appeal. Research has found a strong preference for the chemical signals secreted on the skin by people with Type O blood. Individuals who are "secretors"—meaning they broadcast their blood type antigens through bodily fluids like sweat—are particularly irresistible. This, combined with other genetic predispositions for higher body temperatures and the production of specific compounds like lactic acid, creates a unique chemical signature. Ultimately, about 85% of your attractiveness to mosquitoes is hardwired into your DNA, explaining why some people are, and always will be, mosquito magnets.