Beer, Shared Beds, and Skipping Shower Make You More Attractive to Mosquitoes
A team of scientists has discovered that certain lifestyle habits make people more attractive to mosquitoes. The Mosquito Magnet Trial, conducted at the 2023 Lowlands Festival in the Netherlands, found that participants who consumed beer, shared a bed, or skipped showering and sunscreen were more likely to be bitten.
The study involved 465 festivalgoers who placed their bare arm inside a cage filled with mosquitoes. Results showed that participants who had consumed at least one beer in the 12 hours prior were 1.35 times more attractive to mosquitoes than those who hadn't. Similarly, those who had shared a bed with someone else the night before had a 1.34 times greater attraction rate.
The researchers also found that people with more Streptococcus bacteria on their skin were modestly more attractive to mosquitoes. This is likely due to individual body odor, shaped by skin bacteria, although specific species and quantities were not detailed. Interestingly, participants who had recently showered and applied sunscreen were far less tasty to mosquitoes. The study suggests that a less hygienic lifestyle may come with more mosquito attention.
The Mosquito Magnet Trial recommends showering regularly, applying sunscreen, skipping alcohol, sleeping solo, and avoiding cannabis to minimize mosquito bites. The study found that mosquitoes are drawn to those who avoid sunscreen, drink beer, and share their bed, suggesting they have a 'taste for the hedonists among us'.
