Some people seem to attract mosquitoes like magnets and suffer from their bites more often than others. There is still no scientific consensus on the reasons for this selectivity, and research in this area continues. Recently, specialists from the Netherlands conducted an experiment at the Lowlands music festival to find out which habits and characteristics make people more attractive to blood-sucking insects.

How the Experiment Was Conducted

The researchers hypothesized that personal hygiene, lifestyle, and even alcohol consumption could influence a person's attractiveness to mosquitoes. To test this theory, microbiologist Felix Hol and his colleagues from the Radboud University Medical Center invited visitors of the annual Lowlands festival in Biddinghuizen, which gathers tens of thousands of participants, to take part in the study.

The experiment took place from August 18 to 20, 2023, in a specially equipped laboratory assembled from four cargo containers. Out of approximately 60,000 festival guests, just under 500 agreed to volunteer.

Data Collection and Attractiveness Test

Participants anonymously filled out questionnaires about their habits, diet, personal hygiene, alcohol consumption, and other details, including whether they spent the night alone or with someone else. Their body temperature was measured, and an alcohol tester was used to determine the alcohol content in their breath.

Next, the volunteers underwent a mosquito attractiveness test: they placed their hand into a special container with female malaria mosquitoes (Anopheles). The container was designed so that the mosquitoes could sense the person's scent but could not bite them. Before the test, participants were asked to blow into the container's openings so the mosquitoes could also detect their breath. After the procedure, skin swabs were taken from the participants for microbiome analysis.

Research Results

The entire process was recorded on video, allowing for an accurate count of how many times mosquitoes tried to bite each participant. These data were then compared with the questionnaires and analysis results.

It turned out that mosquitoes more often targeted those who drank beer, smoked cannabis, or shared a bed with someone else. On the other hand, people who had recently showered or used sunscreen were less attractive to the insects.

The researchers jokingly noted, "It seems mosquitoes prefer hedonists," referring to people who seek pleasure.

Possible Explanations and Limitations

Although mosquitoes preferred beer lovers, the reason is probably not the drink itself. According to Felix Hol, such participants may have danced more, which could have affected the intensity of their scent and, consequently, their attractiveness to mosquitoes.

However, due to the specifics of the sample (festival participants are likely younger and healthier than the average person), it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about what makes someone a "mosquito magnet." Previous studies have linked mosquito attractiveness to other factors, such as increased secretion of carboxylic acids on the skin.