Body chemistry and skin microbes influence how attractive you are to mosquitoes

In a recent iScience publication, scientists from Florida International University examined how human skin chemistry influences mosquito host selection. They recruited 119 individuals and exposed them to three mosquito species—Asian Tiger, Aedes aegypti, and southern house—observing that attraction varied by species rather than by a universal “mosquito magnet” trait. Analysis of skin volatiles revealed that the Asian Tiger mosquito was drawn to 13 specific odors, many resembling plant compounds, whereas Aedes aegypti preferred the lack of certain scents and showed a modest preference for male hosts.

The southern house mosquito, active after dark, was guided by the composition of the skin microbiome, with some bacterial families correlating with higher bite rates. While the study only links odors and microbes to attraction, it points toward future repellents that could manipulate these cues. Further work is needed to pinpoint the exact chemicals or microbes that trigger biting behavior.