Torrevieja Forum and Discussion Board

From an article in today's Informacion.


Mystery solved: why mosquitoes bite some people and not others.
Two US researchers find the explanation after a three-year experiment with dozens of volunteers.

After multiple speculations about why mosquitoes bite some people and not others, science has just delivered its verdict. The amount of carboxylic acid that each individual produces in its skin will determine the extent to which its body is attractive to these insects. Those who generate higher levels of this compound will give off a certain body scent and will become a "magnet for mosquitoes" , while those who generate less will manage to go more unnoticed by them.

https://www.informacion.es/medio-ambien ... 72565.html

Bee

Just Googling carboxylic acid and it is found in sweat the body produces, but is also used in perfumes. I guess you have to decide whether you want the mosquito to bite you when you smell sweet or smelly.

This has been known for at least the last 20 years

That's why my wife never wears perfume when going out at night.

I do wear my perfume at all times it must be one they don't like, I mostly only sweat through my head, I very rarely get bitten, thank goodness.

Sounds like carbolic soap. I don't use perfume and the midges and mossies bore holes in me. I suppose it's nice to know I am irrestible

Bee

Bee wrote: 20 Oct 2022 21:29 Sounds like carbolic soap. I don't use perfume and the midges and mossies bore holes in me. I suppose it's nice to know I am irrestible

Bee

xx

Not sure what it is but this year is the worst I have experienced in the 15 years we've had our place.

My ankles look like the surface of the moon.

Both my husband and I normally get bitten a lot when visiting. A friend who lives in Spain suggested taking Vitamin B Complex tablets just before and during our visit. We tried them for the first time when out in September and neither of us got bitten. Whether it was just a fluke or what we can't be sure, but we will be taking them again when we visit next.

Not sure about that as I take vitamin b daily as a supplement anyway