I heard that mosquitos are attracted to people with A+ blood. Is this true, and if so, why?
This is probably one of those unpteen urban myths that float around. There is some anecdotal evidence that mosquitoes are attracted to people with different blood types, but which blood type attracts them varies with the story. Some claim that females better attract mosquitoes than males, but this also appears to be a myth. Female mosquitos use a number of environmental clues to identify a target: body heat, lactic acid, CO2 (carbon dioxide), water vapour, and numerous other chemicals produced by the human body (e.g., sebum, sweat). Visual stimulation also plays a roll. A mosquito that feeds during the day – different species feed at different times – can identify a target by its motion and are more strongly attracted to dark-coloured clothing than light. Once the mosquito comes closer, it makes a more precise identification using smell. Different species may also bite different areas of the body, depending on what combination of environmental clues they use. Perfumes, used in a range
