A new research concluded that mosquitoes are more attracted to those who drink beer and had sex the night before. On the contrary, using sunscreen seems to serve as a repellent for insects.
A new from Nijmegen Radbed University suggests that mosquitoes may be more attracted to people who consume alcohol and have recently had sex.
Although still reviewed by pairs, the investigation shed light on factors that can influence those who become the preferential target of a mosquito. These insects are far from a mere inconvenience and are even the deadliest animals on earth, responsible for the transmission of diseases such as malaria, dengue, zika and the western Nile virus. The World Health Organization estimates that they contribute to about 2.7 million deaths annually.
Researchers led by biologist Felix Hol wanted to investigate how lifestyle and biological signs affect mosquito attraction. Instead of a traditional laboratory environment, the team conducted the so -called “Mosquito Magnet TrialIn Lowlands, a three -day outdoor music festival held east of Amsterdam in 2023, explains the.
Within a temporary laboratory built with containers, about 500 participants of the Festival volunteer To answer questions about your hygiene, diet and recent habits. Then they put their arms in specially conceived cages that had mosquitoes. The cages were built to allow insects to smell the participants, but not to paint them.
The results showed a remarkable pattern: those who reported drinking beer and had sex the night before About 1.35 times more attractive for mosquitoes than other participants. In contrast, the newly lavaged skin or sunscreen application seemed to reduce attraction. The results suggest that body chemistry altered by alcohol and physical activity can make people more attractive to insects.
The study, considered the largest of the genre, is based on existing research that already related the behavior of mosquitoes with the Carbon dioxide expiration and with several olfactory signs. In testing participants in a naturalistic festival environment, although little controlled, researchers sought to capture a more realistic image of interactions between humans and mosquitoes.
However, the authors recognized limitations, including the potential sample group and the lack of rigorous laboratory controls.
Still, findings may have practical implications. Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and applying sunscreen regularly can help reduce mosquito bites, in addition to their well -known health benefits. As investigators jedled up in their report, mosquitoes look like “have a taste for hedonists among us“.
