Do you get bit by mosquitoes more than other people and feel like you’re a “mosquito magnet”? According to a new study, this is because of the way you smell.

Source: CBS Boston/YouTube

A team of researchers at Rockefeller University in New York found that people who have higher levels of certain acids on their skins are 100 times more likely to be bitten by female Aedes aegypti. These types of mosquitoes can spread diseases like dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika.

The study was published in the journal Cell and took the natural scent from people’s skin by having them wear nylon stockings on their arms. They cut the stockings and put two pieces behind separate doors in a clear plastic box. They had dozens of mosquitos flying around and opened the traps and recorded where the insects chose to fly. The study was specifically to see what the Aedes aegypti mosquitos are attracted to.

Although scientists knew that mosquitos have a preference for some people over overs, there was never a distinct answer to why. Now, with the study’s findings, this could lead to products that could mask those odors that mosquitos are attracted to.

The study found that people who have a higher level of compounds called carboxylic acids on their skin are more likely to attract mosquitos. Although the study did not answer why some people have higher concentrations of this on their skin than others, researchers hope to answer this question in the future.

Check out these 5 Natural Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away!

Related Content:

• 5 Natural Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away
• Real-life Vampires: Getting Up Close & Personal with Mosquitos (VIDEO)
• The Best Insect Repelling Essential Oils
• 3 Natural Ways to Protect Your Dog From Summer Pests
• You Want to See These 8 Animals in Your Yard

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take the initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that are raising awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your own food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!