The IAA One Minute Blog

Summertime means it is open season for mosquitoes! While some people aren't as effected by these pesky insects, there are others who always seem to be a mosquito target.

Mosquito Magnets

One in about 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes. It's not dinner they're after, female mosquitoes (males don't bite people) need human blood to develop fertile eggs. But what is so attractive about these people?

• Acids: Mosquitoes target  people who produce excess amounts of certain acids. Lactic acid (given off while exercising), acetone (a chemical released in your breath) and estradiol (a breakdown product of estrogen) can all be released at varying concentrations.   These substances can trigger  mosquitoes sense of smell, leaving them to land on unsuspecting victims.
• Carbon dioxide: Any type of carbon dioxide is attractive, even over a long-distance. Larger people tend to give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes typically prefer munching on adults to small children.
• Cholesterol: People with high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on their skin's surface attract mosquitoes. That doesn't necessarily mean  that mosquitoes attack people  with higher overall cholesterol. These people may be more efficient in processing cholesterol, the byproducts of which remain on the skin's surface. 
• Genetics: This accounts for 85 percent of a person's susceptibility to mosquito bites.
• Heat: Before mosquitoes can take a bite they have to find an area of the body where the blood is close to the surface. Common areas include: forehead, wrist, elbows, and neck. People who are overheated or who just finished working out will have blood closer to the surface of the skin. Mosquitoes use heat to determine where blood is closest to the surface.

But with more than 350 compounds isolated from odors produced by human skin, researchers have barely scratched the surface behind a mosquitoes' preference to certain people.

Prevent Bites

While typically mosquito bites are just irritating, it can become more serious. To prevent bites:

• Avoid wearing dark denim or all black outfits. Some mosquitoes are visual hunters  that search you out by looking for signs of life against the horizon.
• Regularly remove standing water near your home (i.e. gutters, pool covers, pet's water dishes, etc.)
• Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535. Some oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-methane-diol products also provide protection.
•  Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors

Keeping mosquitoes at bay can help prevent any serious illness that can be received through a mosquito bite.

What IAA has to Say

It may be hard to stop yourself from becoming a mosquito magnet, but Insurance Administrator of America wants you to protect yourself. Just think of IAA as your third-party mosquito whisperer, giving you a heads up on those flying pests. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

Interested in reading more on these topics? Click here and here!