General · 5 August 2026
Skin bacteria and body odour make some people mosquito magnets
Photo by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on Unsplash
New research suggests that a mix of skin bacteria and body odour makes certain people more attractive to mosquitoes. Scientists in Miami, Florida, studied nearly 120 volunteers, examining the chemical composition of their skin scents and the bacteria on their forearms. They found that different mosquito species prefer particular human scents, with findings potentially helping create new types of mosquito repellents.
Reported by The Independent · How we write briefs