Are Mosquitoes Attracted To Certain Blood Types? - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Bites and Stings

Are Mosquitoes Attracted to Certain Blood Types?

Medically reviewed by Jenneh Rishe, RN — Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D. on September 16, 2020

Blood type preference
Research
What else?
Mosquito repellents
Bite prevention
Treatment
Bottom line

Out of all the blood types, mosquitoes may have a preference for the blood type O. Mosquitoes may also be attracted to body odor, heat, and dark clothing.

A woman sits outdoors and sprays mosquito repellent on her arms.

Have you ever noticed that mosquitoes seem to bite some people more than others, even when everyone is in the same place at the same time, with the same amount of exposed skin?

Because mosquitoes can spread diseases like malaria, Zika, and dengue fever, scientists have been investigating the various factors that may make some people more attractive to mosquitoes. One of these factors is blood type.

In this article, we examine the link between mosquito bites and blood type, and also look at other factors that attract mosquitoes.

Are people with one blood type more prone to mosquito bites than others?

People with different blood types have different sets of specific proteins (antigens) on the surface of their red blood cells. You inherit your blood type from your parents. There are four different blood types:

A: only A antigen on the surface of red blood cells
B: only B antigen on the surface of red blood cells
AB: both A and B antigen on the surface of red blood cells
O: no A or B antigen on the surface of red blood cells

Some people can also have these antigens in body fluids like saliva or tears. These people are called secretors. For example, someone with blood type A would be a type A secretor. Those with blood type O secrete H antigen, a precursor to A and B antigen.

So, what does all of this mean for how attractive you are to mosquitoes?

Generally speaking, mosquitoes appear to be more attracted to people with blood type O than other blood types. Below, we’ll take a deeper dive into the research on this topic.

What the research says

An older study from 1974 recruited 102 participants to look into various individual factors that could attract mosquitoes. When the researchers analyzed the results, they found that mosquitoes preferentially fed on people with blood type O.

Recently, a 2019 study also assessed blood type preference in mosquitoes. They did this by providing samples of different blood types in separate feeders. It was observed that mosquitoes preferred to feed from the type O feeder than the other feeders.

A 2004 study examined mosquito preference for blood type as well as secretor status. The overall results found that:

More mosquitoes landed on people with blood type O. However, this result was only statistically significant when compared with blood type A and not to the other blood types.
Mosquitoes landed on type O secretors significantly more often than type A secretors.
When blood type antigens were applied to the arms of study participants, mosquitoes were significantly more attracted to people with H (type O) antigen than A antigen. Meanwhile, A antigen was significantly more attractive than B antigen.

Since blood type antigens can be found in the saliva and tears of secretors, it may be possible that mosquitoes can sense these antigens as they approach a person. However, there hasn’t been any research done to support this idea yet.

Also, remember that while the 2004 study found a preference for blood type O over type A, the same can’t be said for the other blood types. Clearly, other individual factors can influence who mosquitoes choose to bite.

Summary
The available research indicates that mosquitoes may prefer individuals with blood type O. However, it’s likely that many other additional factors also play a role in a person’s attractiveness to mosquitoes.

What else attracts mosquitoes?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the other individual factors that can attract mosquitoes.

Carbon dioxide

You release carbon dioxide when you exhale, leaving a trail of carbon dioxide that a mosquito can follow.

An increase in carbon dioxide in the air can alert a mosquito that a possible host is close by. The mosquito will then move toward the source of the carbon dioxide.

Body odor

If you find that mosquitoes bite you more than other people, you may just smell extra good to them. Several factors may influence what you smell like to a mosquito, such as:

Compounds on your skin. Researchers have found several compounds present on the skin that make some people more attractive to mosquitoes. Examples include ammonia and lactic acid.
Bacteria. The bacteria on your skin can also affect your body odor. According to a 2011 study, people with a higher abundance but lower diversity of bacteria on their skin were more attractive to mosquitoes.
Genetics. It’s been found that mosquitoes are more attracted to odors on the hands of identical twins than those of fraternal (nonidentical) twins.

Heat

In addition to carbon dioxide and odors, our bodies also give off heat. Research from 2017 has found that female mosquitoes will move toward heat sources, regardless of their size.

Color

Although it’s not clear why, research from 2018 has shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to black objects. Because of this, you may notice that you get more mosquito bites if you’re wearing darker colors.

Alcohol

A small 2002 study found that mosquitoes may be more attracted to people who’ve been drinking.

In the study, mosquitoes landed on participants more frequently after they’d consumed a small amount of beer.

Pregnancy

One 2004 study found that a higher number of mosquitoes were attracted to pregnant women when compared with nonpregnant women.

This may be because pregnant women release more carbon dioxide and have a higher body temperature.

What types of mosquito repellents work best?

Mosquito repellents that are approved as safe and effective by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) include the following active ingredients:

DEET (marketed as Repel, Off! Deep Woods, and other brands)
picaridin (marketed as Natrapel and Sawyer)
2-undecanone (this repellent is found naturally in cloves and is marketed as Bite Blocker BioUD)
IR3535 (marketed by Merck)
oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)

Studies from 2015 and 2017 comparing different commercially available mosquito repellents have found that those containing DEET were overall the most effective at deterring mosquitoes.

In addition to the repellents above, some natural products may also repel mosquitoes. Some examples include but aren’t limited to:

citronella essential oil
neem oil
thyme essential oil

Safety tips for using mosquito repellents

Always follow the application directions on the product label.
Some repellents shouldn’t be used on children under a certain age. Don’t use DEET on infants under 2 months old. Avoid using OLE on children under 3 years old.
Try to avoid getting the repellent near your eyes or mouth.
Only apply repellent to exposed skin and not under clothing.
Keep repellents away from any cuts, burns, or rashes.
When you go back inside, wash the repellent off your skin with soap and warm water.

What else can you do to prevent mosquito bites?

In addition to using a mosquito repellent, you can also take the following steps to help prevent getting bitten:

Avoid active times. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Try to avoid outdoor activities during this time.
Avoid dark clothing. Try to wear light-colored clothing that covers your arms and legs. Clothes can also be treated with a repellent called permethrin.
Prevent entry. Check to make sure there aren’t any tears on your window and door screens so that mosquitoes can’t get into your house.
Use mosquito netting. If you’re going to be sleeping outside or in a place where mosquitoes can get indoors, consider using mosquito netting.
Eliminate standing water. Mosquitos need standing water to reproduce. Try to limit standing water by draining it from things like empty flowerpots and wading pools.

How to treat a mosquito bite

Mosquito bites typically resolve on their own after several days. However, there are some things you can do in the meantime to help ease any itching or discomfort:

Apply a cold compress. Gently placing a cool compress or ice pack over the bite for a few minutes may help relieve itching and swelling.
Try a baking soda paste. To help alleviate itching, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with water to make a paste and apply it to the mosquito bite.
Use over-the-counter (OTC) products: Various OTC anti-itch creams and oral antihistamines are formulated to ease itching.

Although it can be very tempting, resist the urge to scratch a mosquito bite. Doing so can increase the risk of a skin infection.

»MORE:Get care for insect bites and stings in as little as 15 minutes with Optum Now Online Care.

Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

The bottom line

Female mosquitoes suck blood from humans and other animals to help them reproduce. Although mostly annoying, in some parts of the world a mosquito bite can lead to illnesses like malaria.

Research has found that mosquitoes may prefer to bite people with type O blood. However, additional research is needed to further determine the link between blood type and mosquito attraction.

In addition to blood type, other factors like carbon dioxide, body odor, heat, and dark clothing can also attract mosquitoes.

You can reduce your risk of mosquito bites by using mosquito repellents, avoiding outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active, and eliminating standing water in your yard.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Blood groups. (2020). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-groups/
Dean L. (2005). Chapter 6: The Hh blood group. Blood groups and red cell antigens. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2268/
Fernandez-Grandon GM, et al. (2015). Heritability of attractiveness to mosquitoes. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122716
Himeidan YE, et al. (2004). Attractiveness of pregnant women to the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis, in Sudan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/000349804225021307
How mosquitoes detect people. (2013). https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-mosquitoes-detect-people
Maia MF, et al. (2011). Plant-based insect repellents: A review of their efficacy, development, and testing. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2F1475-2875-10-S1-S11
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020). Mosquito bites. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mosquito-bites/symptoms-causes/syc-20375310
McBride CS. (2016). Genes and odors underlying the recent evolution of mosquito preference for humans. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.11.032
Metgud R, et al. (2016). Evaluation of secretor status of ABO blood group antigens in saliva among southern Rajasthan population using absorption inhibition method. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.7860%2FJCDR%2F2016%2F11598.7161
Mosquito bite symptoms and treatment. (2020). https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-bites/symptoms.html
Rodriguez SD, et al. (2015). The efficacy of some commercially available insect repellents for Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjisesa%2Fiev125
Rodriguez SD, et al. (2017). Efficacy of some wearable devices compared with spray-on insect repellents for the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjisesa%2Fiew117
Prasadini M, et al. (2019). Blood feeding preference of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for human blood group types and its impact on their fecundity: implications for vector control. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aje.20190302.13
Prevent mosquito bites. (2019). https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/media/stopmosquitoes.html
Seda J, et al. (2020). Mosquito bites. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539915/
Shirai O, et al. (2002). Alcohol ingestion stimulates mosquito attraction. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12083361/
Shirai Y, et al. (2004). Landing preference of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) on human skin among ABO blood groups, secretors or nonsecretors, and ABH antigens. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585-41.4.796
Verhulst NO, et al. (2011). Composition of human skin microbiota affects attractiveness to malaria mosquitoes. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028991
Wolff GH, et al. (2018). Olfaction, experience and neural mechanisms underlying mosquito host preference. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.157131
Wood CS. (1974). Preferential feeding of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes on human subjects of blood group O: A relationship between the ABO polymorphism and malaria vectors. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41459967
Zermoglio PF, et al. (2017). What does heat tell a mosquito? Characterization of the orientation behaviour of Aedes aegypti towards heat sources. DOI:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28479122/

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Jenneh Rishe, RN — Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D. on September 16, 2020

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media