Are you a mosquito magnet? The science behind why some people get more bites

If you are one of the unlucky mosquito magnets, you are not alone -- many elements come into play that determine who these bloodsuckers find most irresistible.

In the battle against bloodsucking mosquitoes, there always seems to be those unfortunate individuals who bear the brunt of the incessant bites while others remain relatively unscathed.

If you are one of the unlucky mosquito magnets, constantly swatting away the pesky insects, you are not alone.  From genetics to body chemistry, experts say many elements come into play that determine who these bloodsuckers find most irresistible.

“They’re flying around looking for a dark object that’s releasing C02 and has heat,” Winnipeg entomologist Taz Stuart, said. “If you’ve been running around a soccer field for an hour, she may think you’re tasty because you’re throwing off lots of C02 and you’re warm.

“That person may be more attractive than a person sitting in the stands, who’s having a beverage and watching the game.”

It is only the female mosquitoes that hunt, and they are picky eaters. If a person’s scent fails to meet their standards, these selective females may find another host to feed on, he said.

When it comes to hunting, female mosquitoes rely heavily on scent in order to detect carbon dioxide emitted by humans, explained David Beresford, an entomology professor at Trent University in Oshawa, Ont.

“They will come to a gas lawn mower or a car exhaust for the same reason,” he said.

“They are following the smell, but it works more like soap bubbles in the air. So they get a big burst of these chemicals and then they track where the smell might be coming from until they get another burst of chemicals.”