Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

savafan · 06-06-2005, 09:23 PM

http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=4640

Why do mosquitoes bite some people much more than others? This is merely annoying to those of us living in the West, but to people living in places like Africa, where malaria is rampant, it can mean the difference between life and death. Now scientists have discovered why mosquitoes like some of us much more than others. All humans produce smells which attract these insects, but people who don't get bitten as often produce another smell which masks these scents. If bugs like you, how can you avoid getting bitten? Hang around someone whom the bugs DON'T like to bite.

BBC news reports that researchers want to reporduce this masking smell, because it could be tthe world's most effective mosquito repellant. Scientists have discovered that when herds of cattle contain a large numbers of cows that produce these masking smells, fewer mosquitoes bother the entire herd, even if some of the cows that DO NOT produce this substance.

UKFlounder · 06-06-2005, 09:42 PM

So basically, you just have to stink too bad for even mosquitoes to approach you?

That might also work to keep those pesky members of the opposite sex away too.

MWM · 06-06-2005, 09:44 PM

My wife gets bitten all the time. My kids get gitten sometimes. I never get bitten by mosquitoes. They stay away. Maybe that's why.

wally post · 06-06-2005, 11:33 PM

MWM - your family would be safe if they were standing next to me!

I'd wear that scent in a minute if I could get it... that is, unless my wife would leave me too!

Johnny Footstool · 06-07-2005, 12:33 AM

I know this is just an unproven coincidence, but ever since I started taking vitamin B complex, I get very few mosquito bites. The ones I do get are in high-sweat areas like the backs of my knees and my socks.

919191 · 06-07-2005, 12:54 AM

I used to run an average of about 60 miles a week. I read that endurance running made the body excrete out some enzyme or something, so atheletes had less of it in there system. I don't know, but back then I absolutely never got bit. No that I don.t run but 3 short runs a week, I get the occaisiional bite. But then, even as a kid, they ignored me.

Johnny Footstool · 06-07-2005, 10:28 AM

http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/skeeters.asp

Vitamin B, Skin-So-Soft, Bounce dryer sheets, etc. are all addressed.

RedFanAlways1966 · 06-07-2005, 10:45 AM

Those darn things love me to death. Nice to be loved... but not for my blood! My folks used to coat me in OFF before going out in the summer evening.

Blimpie · 06-07-2005, 11:12 AM

I always heard that mosquitos were attracted to Carbon Dioxide. Last time I checked, weren't all of us still exhaling this?

06-06-2005, 09:23 PM	#1
savafan Maple SERP Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 17,486	Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=4640 Why do mosquitoes bite some people much more than others? This is merely annoying to those of us living in the West, but to people living in places like Africa, where malaria is rampant, it can mean the difference between life and death. Now scientists have discovered why mosquitoes like some of us much more than others. All humans produce smells which attract these insects, but people who don't get bitten as often produce another smell which masks these scents. If bugs like you, how can you avoid getting bitten? Hang around someone whom the bugs DON'T like to bite. BBC news reports that researchers want to reporduce this masking smell, because it could be tthe world's most effective mosquito repellant. Scientists have discovered that when herds of cattle contain a large numbers of cows that produce these masking smells, fewer mosquitoes bother the entire herd, even if some of the cows that DO NOT produce this substance. __________________ This is the Cal Ripkin Jr. of typos. If you ask me to join your fantasy baseball league and I select Legolas in the first round, don't be angry at me. It's not my fault I've read up on the players and you haven't.

06-06-2005, 09:42 PM	#2
UKFlounder Go Reds Go! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Northern KY Posts: 1,829	Re: Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others So basically, you just have to stink too bad for even mosquitoes to approach you? That might also work to keep those pesky members of the opposite sex away too. __________________ http://www.civilwarobsession.com

06-06-2005, 09:44 PM	#3
MWM Pre-tty, pre-tty good!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 12,196	Re: Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others My wife gets bitten all the time. My kids get gitten sometimes. I never get bitten by mosquitoes. They stay away. Maybe that's why. __________________ Grape works as a soda. Sort of as a gum. I wonder why it doesn't work as a pie. Grape pie? There's no grape pie. - Larry David

06-06-2005, 11:33 PM	#4
wally post Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New York City Posts: 1,107	Re: Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others MWM - your family would be safe if they were standing next to me! I'd wear that scent in a minute if I could get it... that is, unless my wife would leave me too!

06-07-2005, 12:33 AM	#5
Johnny Footstool Churlish Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 13,676	Re: Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others I know this is just an unproven coincidence, but ever since I started taking vitamin B complex, I get very few mosquito bites. The ones I do get are in high-sweat areas like the backs of my knees and my socks. __________________ "I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful

06-07-2005, 12:54 AM	#6
919191 Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: the corner bar Posts: 3,752	Re: Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others I used to run an average of about 60 miles a week. I read that endurance running made the body excrete out some enzyme or something, so atheletes had less of it in there system. I don't know, but back then I absolutely never got bit. No that I don.t run but 3 short runs a week, I get the occaisiional bite. But then, even as a kid, they ignored me.

06-07-2005, 10:28 AM	#7
Johnny Footstool Churlish Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 13,676	Re: Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/skeeters.asp Vitamin B, Skin-So-Soft, Bounce dryer sheets, etc. are all addressed. __________________ "I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful

06-07-2005, 10:45 AM	#8
RedFanAlways1966 For a Level Playing Field Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Oakwood, OH Posts: 11,302	Re: Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others Those darn things love me to death. Nice to be loved... but not for my blood! My folks used to coat me in OFF before going out in the summer evening. __________________ Small market fan... always hoping, but never expecting.

06-07-2005, 11:12 AM	#9
Blimpie Joe Oliver love-child Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lexington Posts: 4,854	Re: Scientists discover why some of us get bit more by mosquitoes than others I always heard that mosquitos were attracted to Carbon Dioxide. Last time I checked, weren't all of us still exhaling this? __________________ "Booing on opening day is like telling grandma her house smells like old lady."--WOY

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