Which Blood Type is Most Attractive to Mosquitoes?
We all know someone. The person who becomes a feast at every summer barbeque. The mosquito magnet who sprints from the front door to the car because any more than 10 seconds outside leads to an itchy bite. The unfortunate soul who cannot escape insects, even during the winter. Maybe this is your fate, your child’s or that of another loved one – but is it random, or does it boil down to science?
We had a debate in our office and set out to discover which blood type mosquitoes find the most delicious, since more than a few of us seem to be tasty snacks. Thankfully, we found research from scientists who already put in the work for us.
One controlled study by the Journal of Medical Entomology1 observed the landing preference of mosquitoes on humans of various blood types. An earlier study published in Nature2 took it a step further and tested their feeding preferences by the number of bites for each group.
Though the methods varied, the results all pointed to one blood type: O is the most appetizing. Mosquitoes landed or fed on people with Type O blood nearly twice as often as those with Type A. Those with Type B blood were a second favorite treat.
Does that mean people with Type A are in the clear? No way, as many of you can probably attest. Approximately 80 percent of humans secrete sugars related to their blood type, so the study from the Journal of Medical Entomology also tested whether “secretors” influenced the arthropods’ (mosquitoes’) preferences. Researchers concluded that mosquitoes are more attracted to secretors than nonsecretors.
While we learned blood type does play a role, science shows it is not the only factor. Metabolic rate, lactic acid, acetone (found in your breath) and other chemicals humans naturally release affect the attraction. Extra body heat, movement and dark colors can also entice these pesky creatures.
Just like some people seem to be tastier to mosquitoes, others may release chemicals on their skin that repel bugs (how do we get some of those?!), which is another reason pests bother some people more than others.
If you are type O, or another member of the unlucky mosquito magnet crew, we may not be able to stop the bugs from attacking you, but we can ease the aftermath of their attacks. The Bug Bite Thing suction tool painlessly removes insect saliva and venom to eliminate the itching, stinging and swelling that comes as a result of bites and stings. It is especially helpful for the people who have the double whammy of genetics: mosquito-attracting blood and an extra-sensitive immune response to insect saliva that leads to larger welts.
Does your blood type seem to match up with the results of this research? Share your experience in the comments.
References:
1. Yoshikazu Shirai, Hisashi Funada, Hisao Takizawa, Taisuke Seki, Masaaki Morohashi, Kiyoshi Kamimura, Landing Preference of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) on Human Skin Among ABO Blood Groups, Secretors or Nonsecretors, and ABH Antigens , Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 41, Issue 4, 1 July 2004, Pages 796–799, https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585-41.4.796.
2. WOOD, C., HARRISON, G., DORÉ, C. et al. Selective Feeding of Anopheles gambiae according to ABO Blood Group Status. Nature 239, 165 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/239165a0.
I am type B and get eaten within moments of being outside! This article also states, darker colors may be more attractive? My sister is very dark skinned and NEVER gets bit! She actually allowed a mosquito to land on her and bite, but it did not itch or swell like mine! I rarely eat sweets and always use bug spray, but those mosquitos still seem to love me! (How unfortunate!)
I am O+ and sadly those little devils love me. I also get hot quickly so that may be a factor as well. My husband has AB+ blood and seldom gets ‘eaten’.
I recently discovered a garlic oil spray will deter these insects. (Supposedly Disneyland /world uses it in their parks ). It has helped tremendously!!!! I still need the Bug Bite Thing for all other places.
My father, son and I are all O positive and we get nailed with mosquitos. The Asian Tiger is badly infested in Southern California. We douse ourselves everyday in bug spray and use our big bite thing which helps tremendously for these multiple bites that swell up like a spider bite. Thank you big bite thing for relieving our discomfort. I have gotten one for every friend:)
The Aedes albopictus mosquito (also known as the Asian tiger mosquito or forest mosquito) has finally come to my county in Southern New York, making its way north since it hitched a ride inside imported used tires about 35 years ago when it landed in Houston. I had never been bitten by this species of mosquito before until this past spring, and man, are these bites intensely painful. They also have led to infections because I react so severely. My friend who lives in NYC (she’s a mom of two kids) heard about the Bug Bite Thing and told me about it, and I decided to order one. It has been nothing short of a lifesaver. Before using this device I had been to telehealth Urgent Care (because of the pandemic), in-person Urgent Care, and visits to my primary care doctor and an allergist. Using the Bug BIte Thing to suck out the mosquito’s saliva immediately upon noticing a bite has made all the difference. I wash the bite and put on steroid cream, too. It was my allergist, who knew about this new pest, who suggested that I was reacting to a new bug that had never bitten me before. He knew about these smaller, more aggressive mosquitoes because he used to practice in Long Island, where they landed first in NY. I am so grateful to have this device around. Thank you again!
I’m A+ and surely a mosquito magnet. 10 bites for me, one for my wife!A-.
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