Comments on: Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

By: kefirah

kefirah — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:44:42 +0000

It seems blood type and Rh doesn’t matter.

There is a wide range of reactions such as multiple bites, cluster bites (that would be me); very large welts indicative of a stronger reaction to the mosquito “saliva” (me again) vs. those who get garden variety itchy bites; and those who even are bitten through clothing (me again).

I live in Maryland about a mile from the bay and have already fed more than a few mosquitos on just one 30-minute power walk at 6 pm yesterday (so movement doesn’t deter them from biting) after an unusually cold winter and snowy/wet couple of months with lots of snow melt and standing water.

Garlic may interfere with the host scent as some have expressed.

And some of us experience something midlife that changes are bite frequency too.

Replentents work, and sometimes not. hmmmmm…. I wonder if it might be the strain or species of mosquito that is the key. Could it be that some strains of mosquitoes indigenous to an area go after some people, but not others? And that repellents are ineffective against some strains, but not others?

Aveeno baths, hydrocortison creams, ice packs, and benadryl make up my drug store list from March through late October for me every year….

By: Noelene

Noelene — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:36:26 +0000

I thought as Marion post 76 that it may be to do with the Rh factor rather that the blood type. I am A- and never get bitten. She is A- and attracts mosquitos, so that theory is out the window.

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:05:27 +0000

I am O- and mosquitos could not be less interested in me. I am grateful to not have to wear bug spray all the time. I do know I have very good oxygen uptake. This may help. It would be nice to know why I’m so lucky, maybe diet or vitamins? I keep up on my vitamin Bs…. I have been to the Yucatan, Bahamas, Virginia and the Mid-west in the summer, and all up and down the West Coast. It is so rare that I get bit in any of these places. I did get bit as a child though.

By: LynseyC

LynseyC — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:41:22 +0000

Just another random thought about body temp…… apparently the colder we are in body temp the less we get bitten….the colder I am the more I wear…hence less skin exposed to these nasty little blood suckers…hence less bites? No? People who have raised body temps would be inclined to wear less. Not a scientific fact… more like common sense :)

By: LynseyC

LynseyC — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:35:10 +0000

There seems to be very little pattern with blood type on the above posts….many of you do not note whether you are rhesus negative or not? Maybe this makes some difference too? I also think it is dependant on the type of mosquito…has to be! I rarely get bitten in Europe but on a recent trip to Egypt I got eaten alive – over 100 bites over two evenings (in clusters) and my four friends had around ten bites between them all!!! I am B- blood type. Wish they could eliminate the world of these little pests!

By: DebH

DebH — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:52:53 +0000

I’m B+ 56-year-old female and hardly ever get bitten, although I used to when I was younger. I live in climate where mosquitoes are prevalent except in winter.

By: Eaten alive

Eaten alive — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:38:18 +0000

for years and years every time i go camping im the ONLY one who gets eaten by thos damn bugs .When i was 10 are atv got stuck 10k away from help and we had to walk all the way there . my back was covered in bits and the sad part is they had to bite thru jacket

By: mosquito traps

mosquito traps — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:57:19 +0000

Interesting post, I’m an ‘O’ and I rarely ever get bit. Never thought about it much before though.

By: prito

prito — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:43:59 +0000

thank you for a wonderful article. now my colleague and I are aware about mosquito bite in general. that what an awesome information that could help my topic.

By: prito

prito — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:42:34 +0000

thank you for a wonderful article. now my colleague and I are aware about mosquito bite in general