The reason mosquitoes bite one person more than another is still shrouded in mystery: but, according to a new study, they like people who drink beer more. A research team from Radboud University Nijmegen conducted an experiment at a music festival in the Netherlands that demonstrated what attracts mosquitoes most… and it's not just beer.
What Do Mosquitos Prefer?
During the Lowlands Festival, one of the most important in Europe, the researchers arrived, bringing with them Anopheles mosquitoes and transforming containers into small laboratories in which to conduct their experiment. Nearly five hundred people decided to participate in the study, which involved placing their arms in a specially constructed cage —which also contained a sugar-soaked panel— and answering questions about what they had eaten and drunk, their personal hygiene practices in the past few days, and what they had done during the concert. Using video cameras, the researchers observed the behavior of the mosquitoes, which could only land on and sniff the participants, but could not bite them, thanks to a material that protected them. From the images observed, the result was surprising: those who drank beer were 1.35 times more attractive than those who had not consumed the beverage, and also compared to those who had recently washed their arms or applied sunscreen.
But beer wasn't the only discriminating factor: those who had slept with someone the night before or had smoked marijuana were also significantly more attractive to mosquitoes. A result that raises some smiles, even among the researchers, who ironically stated: "We discovered that mosquitoes are attracted to those who avoid sunscreen, drink beer, and sleep with someone. They simply prefer the hedonists among us." In any case, it's worth noting that the study was published on bioRxiv, a site where it's possible to post research that hasn't yet been peer-reviewed, and is therefore still being reviewed.
Anti-Mosquito Food
Beyond the annoyance of these small insects' bites, knowing what attracts them is essential, considering all the diseases they carry. As we sadly saw these past summers, there have been many outbreaks of mosquito-borne infections, such as West Nile fever, chikungunya, and dengue. Therefore, it's important to understand what might attract or repel these insects, including through diet: just as beer and spicy foods can attract mosquitoes, there are some natural repellents such as garlic, onions, grapefruit, and aromatic herbs that, obviously, don't make you immune to bites, but they can help, even if only slightly, to avoid them.
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