Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

[mr715]

2. This is my area of research.

Much of it is skin microbiome. Everyone has a microbiotic "fingerprint" and some bacterial complements produce attractants (or fewer repellants).

Mosquitos rely on carbon dioxide to active feeding behavior, then body heat, visual cues, and olfactory signals before landing on you. Finally, they take a taste. If they like it, they'll drink. They can discern energetic states and disease in the blood and may refuse feeding even if someone smells nice.

My boss made the first mutant mosquito that couldn't smell (many odors). On these mosquitoes, the species lost their preference for human smells, but were still repelled by DEET. Turns out DEET also tastes bad.


Edit: The article you shared appears to be from the lab where my doctoral advisor did his post doctoral work - Rockefeller. Dr. Leslie Vosshall is the world expert on insect olfaction