Why mosquitoes bite some people more.
Carbon dioxide and lactic acid are released whenever we breathe or sweat, but the emission rates vary by person. Larger people and pregnant woman, for example, have higher levels and are more likely targets. According to Susan Peskewitz, a mosquito researcher and entomology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the scents of these compounds coupled with body heat are the biggest attractors. So if you've recently exercised, watch out: The combination of lactic acid (which builds up when muscles are exerted), sweat filled with carbon dioxide, and an increased temperature make you an ideal host.
So apparently there are a few characteristic of your body that cause you to attract more mosquitoes than other people. That's not really a surprise as there is always one person in the group who is saying "I'm not getting bit at all!" and people are always irritated with that person. Luckily the CDC has approved four repellents that will help eliminate or reduce the bother of mosquitoes.
Sprays and lotions including DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or IR3535 (which has made Avon's Skin-so-Soft lotion a popular choice) have all been deemed effective and safe to keep the bugs at bay.
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