The Gist Sadie Dingfelder on Mosquito Magnets and Who Tastes Best to Bugs
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Sep 23, 2025 Sadie Dingfelder, a journalist and author known for her insightful research on scientific studies, dives into the intriguing world of mosquito attraction. She reveals why some individuals are like a buffet for these pests while others remain untouched. From the role of carbon dioxide and sweat to surprising factors like bananas, Dingfelder discusses decades of fascinating mosquito studies. She also touches on innovative lab methods that replace human volunteers, making mosquito research ethical and enlightening.
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Carbon Dioxide Drives Long‑Range Attraction
- Mosquitoes use multiple cues to find humans, especially CO2 plumes from breath that attract them from tens of feet away.
- Larger people and pregnant women exhale more CO2 and thus attract more mosquitoes from a distance.
Gambian Huts Study With Rotating Volunteers
- A 1993 Gambian study rotated nine men through huts and counted mosquitoes and blood meals the next morning.
- They found consistent differences: some men drew more mosquitoes and some got bitten more than others.
Attractiveness ≠ Being Bitten
- Attraction and successful biting are distinct: some people attract mosquitoes but their skin repels feeding.
- Mosquitoes taste skin and blood, preferring certain skin microbiomes and blood amino acids.
