Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Some People More?

Mosquitoes locate hosts mainly by sensing carbon dioxide plumes from breathing, body heat, and moisture. People who exhale more CO₂, such as larger adults or those exercising, draw more mosquitoes from farther away. Once close, skin-surface chemicals matter: lactic acid, ammonia, and specific fatty acids produced by skin bacteria create scent profiles that vary between individuals. Studies also suggest that people with Type O blood are bitten roughly twice as often as those with Type A, though the mechanism is not fully understood.