Free · 60 Seconds · Peer-reviewed science
Am I a Mosquito Magnet?
Take the 9-question test. Find out exactly why mosquitoes bite you more than other people — and what to do about it.
Question 1 of 10
What’s your blood type?
Type O is mosquito catnip — Type AB barely registers. Wild but real (Smith et al. 2002).
Quick Answer
Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?
Mosquitoes don’t pick targets randomly. They use a hierarchy of detectable cues: CO2 exhalation (detectable from up to 50 metres away), body heat, lactic acid in skin sweat, blood-type-specific chemicals secreted through skin, visual contrast, skin microbiome composition, and certain volatile compounds. Some people score high on multiple factors — they’re what we call “mosquito magnets” and get bitten 5-10x more than the average person at the same location. The factors are well-documented in peer-reviewed entomology research: Type O blood (2x effect), pregnancy (2x), larger body size, post-exercise lactic acid, beer drinking, dark clothing, floral fragrances, and high body temperature. Some you can change; some you can’t. The Mosquito Magnet Quiz scores you on all 9 factors to identify your specific attraction profile and what you can do about it.
The science of mosquito attraction
Female mosquitoes — the only ones that bite humans — need a blood meal to develop eggs. They’ve evolved to find blood meals efficiently, using a layered detection system:
Long-range detection (up to 50 metres)
CO2 plumes. Mosquitoes detect carbon dioxide gradients in the air using sensors on their antennae. Bigger bodies, exercising bodies, and pregnant women all exhale measurably more CO2 — and become detectable from further away. This is why hiding in a tent doesn’t work — the CO2 leaks through.
Mid-range detection (5-15 metres)
Body heat + visual contrast. Mosquitoes have infrared-sensitive antennae that detect body temperature gradients. They also use eyes (yes, mosquitoes have surprisingly good vision) to lock onto dark high-contrast targets against the background. Switching to light-coloured clothing reduces visual detection by 30-40% — one of the easiest changes you can make.
Close-range targeting (under 1 metre)
Skin chemistry. Within striking distance, mosquitoes use highly specialized receptors to detect skin volatiles — lactic acid (post-exercise), ammonia, fatty acids, and blood-type-specific compounds. Skin microbiome composition matters too: people with more diverse skin bacteria are LESS attractive than those with low-diversity bacteria. This is partly genetic.
What actually reduces your bite rate
Once you know what makes you attractive, you can counter each factor specifically:
- Picaridin 20% or DEET 30% on skin — interferes with mosquito olfactory receptors, masks your scent
- Light-coloured clothing — reduces visual targeting
- Permethrin-treated clothing — kills mosquitoes (and ticks) that contact treated fabric
- Shower within 30 min of exercise — washes off lactic acid
- Skip floral lotions outdoors — they mimic flower nectar
- Reduce mosquito populations around your property — even the highest-magnet person doesn’t get bitten if there are no mosquitoes nearby
That last one is the highest-leverage move. Take our Yard Risk Report to find out how bad your specific yard’s mosquito pressure is — and how to fix it.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do mosquitoes bite me more than other people?
Mosquitoes pick targets based on a hierarchy of detectable cues: CO2 exhalation (detectable from up to 50 metres), lactic acid in skin sweat, body temperature, blood type chemicals secreted in skin, visual contrast against background, skin microbiome diversity, and certain volatile compounds your body produces. Some factors you can change (clothing colour, lotion use, exercise timing); others you can't (blood type, body size, pregnancy). The Mosquito Magnet Quiz scores you across 9 factors to identify which are driving your specific attraction profile.
Is the blood type theory of mosquito attraction real?
Yes. Smith et al. (2002) — published in the Journal of Medical Entomology — demonstrated that Type O blood is roughly 2x as attractive to mosquitoes as Type A, with Type B and AB falling in the middle. The mechanism: chemicals secreted through skin pores correlate with blood type and signal "high-quality blood meal" to a mosquito's sensors. About 80% of people are "secretors" who release these chemicals strongly; non-secretors get bitten less regardless of blood type.
Does drinking beer really attract more mosquitoes?
Yes — Lefèvre et al. (2010) measured a statistically significant increase in mosquito landings within 15 minutes of beer consumption compared to a placebo control. The exact mechanism is debated (changes in skin chemistry, ethanol metabolites in sweat, slight CO2 increase) but the effect is consistent across studies. The increase is modest (~15-20%) but compounds with other risk factors.
Are pregnant women really bitten more by mosquitoes?
Yes — Lindsay et al. (2000) measured pregnant women being bitten approximately 2x more often than non-pregnant women in Gambia. Two physiological changes drive this: pregnancy increases body temperature ~0.5°C and increases CO2 exhalation rate by ~21%. Both signal "good target" to a mosquito's sensors. This is why malaria-endemic regions specifically prioritize pregnant women for protection — the same biology that protects fetal development creates a stronger mosquito attraction signal.
How accurate is this Mosquito Magnet test?
The score is based on peer-reviewed research linking each of the 9 factors to measurable mosquito attraction effects. The relative weightings come from published effect-size estimates (e.g., Type O blood ~2x effect, pregnancy ~2x, lactic acid post-exercise ~1.5x, dark clothing visual cue ~1.4x). It's designed as a relative attractiveness score (you vs. typical person), not an absolute predictor of bite count. People scoring 75+ consistently report higher bite rates than those scoring under 40 in our customer surveys.
If I'm a mosquito magnet, what actually works to protect me?
Three layers, in order of effectiveness: (1) Reduce the mosquito population around your property — even high-magnet people don't get bitten if there are no mosquitoes nearby (this is what BuzzSkito barrier spray does); (2) Personal repellent — picaridin 20% or DEET 30% on skin during outdoor time provides 5-8 hours of protection; (3) Behavioural changes — wear lighter colours, avoid floral lotions/perfumes outdoors, time exercise away from dusk if possible. The single highest-leverage move for high-magnet people is reducing the mosquito population in the first place.
Is the Mosquito Magnet test free?
Yes — completely free, no email required to see your score, no credit card. Email is only requested if you want the full personalized report with your factor breakdown, the science behind each one, and your custom protection plan. Even if you skip the email, you see your score and top 3 attraction drivers immediately.