You notice it the second you step outside. While others enjoy the evening, you’re busy swatting at bites that seem to come out of nowhere. It’s not your imagination. Some people really are more attractive to mosquitoes than others. And the reasons go far beyond being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance — they’re precision hunters equipped with tools to detect movement, heat, scent, and chemical signals. These insects aren’t guessing; they’re reading cues your body gives off, many of which you can’t see, smell, or control. For some, it’s an unfortunate combination of genetics and biology that makes them impossible for mosquitoes to ignore.
But once you understand what’s pulling them in, you can start to shut those signals off. Whether it’s your choice of skincare, your wardrobe, or the invisible markers on your skin, small changes dramatically shift how often you’re targeted.
Everyday Choices Make You A Mosquito Target
Female mosquitoes, the only ones that bite, use body scent, skin chemistry, breath, heat, and even color detection to find their next blood meal. As noted by the Cleveland Clinic, this isn’t random — it’s about the invisible signals you send without realizing it.1
SKIN PRODUCTS. If you’ve been layering on scented lotion, floral body spray, or even using exfoliating skincare, you could be drawing mosquitoes straight to you. Many moisturizing lotions contain lactic acid and alpha hydroxy acids, ingredients designed to smooth skin, but also known to attract mosquitoes.
“Mosquitoes are attracted to our body odor, but they also are attracted to the things we use to mask body odor,” explained Dr. Jennifer Lucas, a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic.2
DARK CLOTHING. Mosquitoes are highly responsive to visual cues, specifically color. Wearing red, black, orange or cyan makes you stand out, while lighter colors like white, green, blue and purple are less attractive to them.3 These color preferences may be linked to how mosquitoes interpret the heat and reflectivity of different shades against human skin.
ELEVATED BODY TEMPERATURE. When you’re overheated or sweating, even slightly, you become a more obvious target. Mosquitoes sense temperature changes in your skin and are drawn to warmer, more humid surfaces. This means post-exercise, sunbathing, or even just sitting outside on a hot day elevate your risk. Lucas explains that mosquitoes “pick up on your body’s thermal sensory information,” and they lock in on that like radar.4,5
HIGHER CO2 OUTPUT. It’s not just skin they’re interested in. Your exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) acts like a trail of breadcrumbs, guiding mosquitoes right to you. Msquitoes rely on specialized organs, called palps, located between their antennae to detect carbon dioxide from human breath.6
Higher CO2 output, like what happens when you’re exercising, drinking alcohol, or pregnant, makes you more appealing. The skin also emits ammonia, uric acid, and lactic acid, especially when you’re hot, stressed, or after drinking alcohol. These compounds enhance the scent signal mosquitoes follow.
Your Blood Type Influences Mosquito Bite Frequency
Published in the American Journal of Entomology, a study set out to answer a simple but overlooked question: do mosquitoes have a preferred blood type, and does that preference affect how many eggs they produce?7 Researchers tested female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes using a controlled lab environment with membrane feeders that offered blood from all four human blood groups — A, B, AB, and O — at the same time.
Group O was the overwhelming favorite, with mosquitoes choosing this blood type significantly more often than A, B, or AB. The preference was statistically significant, meaning the result wasn’t random — it reflected a real behavioral pattern.
One of the study’s goals was to see whether the blood type affected mosquito fertility. After feeding, researchers counted the number of eggs each mosquito laid. Despite showing a clear preference for blood type O, the number of eggs laid did not differ significantly between any of the blood groups. In other words, O blood was more attractive, but it didn’t result in more offspring.
Lab tests show that oils from Russian sage, wild mint, and tangerine peel repel mosquitoes for up to 2.25 hours, depending on how much you apply. At higher doses, Russian sage performed just as well as DEET, without the health risks.
If you have blood type O, you’re statistically more likely to get bitten. That puts you at higher risk for mosquito-borne diseases. But mosquitoes don’t benefit more from feeding on you — they’re just more drawn to your chemistry. People with type A blood were the least attractive to the mosquitoes, confirming prior studies showing similar patterns.
While you can’t change your blood type, you can change your environment. If you’re type O, it’s smart to use extra protection — especially during peak mosquito hours in the morning and at dusk. That might include covering up more skin, avoiding scented products, or staying indoors during mosquito-heavy times.
While the study didn’t explore why O blood is more appealing, it reinforces the idea that personal biology plays a major role in mosquito attraction. You’re not imagining things if you get bitten more than your friends — it could be in your blood.
How To Stop Attracting Mosquitoes Before They Find You
If you’re tired of being a mosquito magnet, the most important thing to understand is that this isn’t random. Your scent, body chemistry, habits, and even your wardrobe all send out signals that either invite or repel these insects. You can’t change your DNA, but you can control many of the triggers that make you easier to find and bite. The goal here isn’t to slap on toxic insect repellent — it’s to address the real causes of why mosquitoes are choosing you in the first place. Here’s where to start:
1.Cut scented body products and switch to unscented basics. If you use floral-scented lotions, body sprays, or skin creams, including those with alpha hydroxy or lactic acids, stop. Not only do fragrance chemicals often act as endocrine disruptors, increasing your risk of reproductive, developmental and metabolic problems, but these products amplify the natural signals mosquitoes are already drawn to. Instead, use natural fragrance-free moisturizers and soaps.
Wear light-colored clothing that covers more skin. Dark colors like black, red, and navy act like visual beacons to mosquitoes. They absorb heat and stand out in low light, which helps mosquitoes lock onto you. Stick with white, light gray, or pale blue clothing when you’re outside. Long sleeves, pants, and wide-brimmed hats give you another layer of defense.
Skip the alcohol.If you’re someone who enjoys a cold beer at a backyard BBQ, know this: alcohol is not only linked to chronic diseases like cancer, it also increases your skin temperature and raises carbon dioxide output through your breath — two things that mosquitoes home in on.
Lower your body heat before spending time outside. Mosquitoes sense temperature differences with impressive precision. If you’ve just exercised, been out in the sun, or eaten a heavy meal, your body heat and sweat will spike, making you a prime target. Cool off with a fan or take a quick rinse with cold water before stepping out. Even sitting in the shade for 10 minutes helps.
Use plant-based oils that protect as well as DEET, without the toxins. If you want strong protection without using chemicals like DEET, certain plant oils are a powerful alternative. Lab tests show that oils from Russian sage, wild mint, and tangerine peel repel mosquitoes for up to 2.25 hours, depending on how much you apply.8
At higher doses, Russian sage performed just as well as DEET, without the health risks. I recommend using these in essential oil form. Mix a few drops with a carrier oil like coconut oil and apply it to exposed skin before heading outside. Reapply as needed, especially if you’re sweating or staying out for a long time.
Sources and References
1, 2, 4 Cleveland Clinic August 22, 2022
3 Nature Communications February 4, 2022
5,6 Live Now Fox June 5, 2025
7American Journal of Entomology June 26, 2019
8 Molecules. 2023 Jan 31;28(3):1351
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