- Region
- Águilas
- Alhama de Murcia
- Jumilla
- Lorca
- Los Alcázares
- Mazarrón
- San Javier
-
ALL AREAS & TOWNS
- AREAS
- SOUTH WEST
- MAR MENOR
- MURCIA CITY & CENTRAL
- NORTH & NORTH WEST
- TOWNS
- Abanilla
- Abarán
- Aguilas
- Alamillo
- Alcantarilla
- Aledo
- Alhama de Murcia
- Archena
- Balsicas
- Blanca
- Bolnuevo
- Bullas
- Cañadas del Romero
- Cabo de Palos
- Calasparra
- Camping Bolnuevo
- Campo De Ricote
- Camposol
- Canada De La Lena
- Caravaca de la Cruz
- Cartagena
- Cehegin
- Ceuti
- Cieza
- Condado de Alhama
- Corvera
- Costa Cálida
- Cuevas De Almanzora
- Cuevas de Reyllo
- El Carmoli
- El Mojon
- El Molino (Puerto Lumbreras)
- El Pareton / Cantareros
- El Raso
- El Valle Golf Resort
- Fortuna
- Fuente Alamo
- Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
- Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
- Isla Plana
- Islas Menores & Mar de Cristal
- Jumilla
- La Azohia
- La Charca
- La Manga Club
- La Manga del Mar Menor
- La Pinilla
- La Puebla
- La Torre
- La Torre Golf Resort
- La Unión
- Las Palas
- Las Ramblas
- Las Ramblas Golf
- Las Torres de Cotillas
- Leiva
- Librilla
- Lo Pagan
- Lo Santiago
- Lorca
- Lorquí
- Los Alcázares
- Los Balcones
- Los Belones
- Los Canovas
- Los Nietos
- Los Perez (Tallante)
- Los Urrutias
- Los Ventorrillos
- Mar De Cristal
- Mar Menor
- Mar Menor Golf Resort
- Mazarrón
- Mazarrón Country Club
- Molina de Segura
- Moratalla
- Mula
- Murcia City
- Murcia Property
- Pareton
- Peraleja Golf Resort
- Perin
- Pilar de la Horadada
- Pinar de Campoverde
- Pinoso
- Playa Honda
- Playa Honda / Playa Paraíso
- Pliego
- Portmán
- Pozo Estrecho
- Puerto de Mazarrón
- Puerto Lumbreras
- Puntas De Calnegre
- Region of Murcia
- Ricote
- Roda Golf Resort
- Roldan
- Roldan and Lo Ferro
- San Javier
- San Pedro del Pinatar
- Santiago de la Ribera
- Sierra Espuña
- Sucina
- Tallante
- Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
- Torre Pacheco
- Totana
- What's On Weekly Bulletin
- Yecla
- EDITIONS:
Spanish News Today
Alicante Today
Andalucia Today
The cheesy reason mosquitoes find you irresistible
Certain body odours have been shown to attract these pesky insects
![The cheesy reason mosquitoes find you irresistible](https://murciaauditorium.com/images/articles/24/07/1000099044__11721739514_large.jpg)
Mosquitoes are a guaranteed nuisance during the summer months in Spain, disrupting our sleep with their incessant buzzing and causing unsightly and itchy bites. What’s more, each year they’re transmitting more and more serious diseases across Europe, including the dangerous dengue fever.
It seems that some people are just a magnet for mosquitoes, suffering mozzie bites no matter what they do. Not only is this definitely not an urban myth, but there’s actually a pretty cheesy (literally) reason why these irritating insects are attracted to some more than others.
A study published in Current Biology has shed light on this phenomenon, revealing that certain compounds found in aged cheese are to blame.
The study found that carboxylic acids, such as butyric acid, which is produced by bacteria on our skin and gives off that distinct aged-cheese aroma, proves irresistible to mosquitoes. Don’t worry, you don’t smell cheesy to your friends, but to mosquitoes you might as well be a delicious snack.
It’s not just about the cheese, though. Mosquitoes are also drawn to individuals with higher body temperatures, such as those with more superficial capillaries or light skin. Physical activity and sweat increase the number of substances emitted by the body, making you even more appealing to these tiny predators.
Another factor to consider is alcohol consumption. When you drink, your body emits more acetone, ethanol and methanol through sweat, making you a prime target for mosquitoes.
Finally, while blood type may play a role in mosquito attraction, it is not as significant as other factors such as body odour, carbon dioxide emission and heat.
Regardless of blood type, mosquitoes are drawn to certain chemical cues that signal a potential meal.
Mosquito protection
To protect yourself from mosquito bites, it is essential to use skin repellents correctly and according to the instructions on the label. Repellents with active ingredients like Deet, icaridin or paramatanediol are highly effective and emit an odour that mosquitoes find repulsive.
However, it’s important to note that no repellent is completely foolproof, and effectiveness can vary depending on individual factors.
Additionally, children, pregnant women, obese individuals and those with fair, sensitive skin are at a higher risk of being bitten due to increased carbon dioxide emission and body temperature.
And let’s not forget our feet – the combination of heat and smell, along with the low-flying habits of mosquitoes, make them a prime target for bites.
While prevention is better than cure, there are also remedies available to alleviate the discomfort of mosquito bites. Baking soda paste and astringent gels containing aluminium chloride can help reduce swelling and redness, providing much-needed relief.
Image: Peggy Greb/US Department of Agriculture
Loading
See more news about animals in Spain:
OR
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin to get a comprehensive email with all the week’s news for Spain, Murcia, Alicante and Andalucía.
Get a sneak peek – here are a few of our recent Subscription Bulletins:
50% Discount Special Offer subscription:
24.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
Contact Murcia Today: Editorial 000 000 000 /
Office 000 000 000