Quoted from 14428

http://scienceline.org/2007/09/ask-knight-mosquitoes/

A great explanation there...It seems they do prefer type O's, but I'm an O  and they won't bite me unless they've no one else to choose from... I guess they figured my blood wasn't that great...

Hah it says they bite secretors over non secretors...can't wait to get my results...

OK this is weird.  I’m B non-secretor who drinks wine and I get bit way more than my B secretor son who drinks beer.  What’s up, I’m supposed to bet bit less than other people!!!

Quoted from BCgal

What dosage of B's do you take Ruthie?  I've been taking 50 mg. 3x a day for years and that hasn't stopped the little critters from helping themselves to me.

I take B-50 once a day, although there were times in the past when I took it twice a day. I never took it 3X a day- at least not regularly. There might have been days when I accidentally took it 3X because I wasn't sure if I'd taken it yet or not.

It's obviously a complex biochemical response here. Some things may make us "less tasty" to mosquitos,  but those things may vary from person to person.

Let's not forget the obvious things like minimzing our time outside at dusk, using insect repellent when we can't avoid it, and minimizing mosquito habitats by dumping out pools or buckets of standing water. I make my own mosquito repellant by putting witch hazel in a spray bottle and adding a few drops of tea tree oil and lavendar oil. If sprayed on right before heading outside, it keeps them from biting. This combo is also soothing on bites you may already have.

the higher your sugar intake, the more mosquitoes will love your blood!!!

Quoted from Lola

the higher your sugar intake, the more mosquitoes will love your blood!!!

Not necessarily! My mom eats a lot more sugar than I do and she doesn't get bitten and I am dinner and dessert! We are both A's. She thinks it's because she smokes .

Smart mosquitoes!

Quoted from Drea

Not necessarily! My mom eats a lot more sugar than I do and she doesn't get bitten and I am dinner and dessert! We are both A's. She thinks it's because she smokes .

Me too before my healthy days...I lived on sweets and still they didn't bite me...unless no one else was available, but they definitely preferred to bite someone besides me...

it may be a combination of factors.  I used to get bitten, but now I don't since I stopped eating sugar, but maybe other things have changed as well.  

looking back through this it seems like prop tasters get bit - at least for the most part

Quoted from Drea

She thinks it's because she smokes .

Smoke definitely keeps them away...  When we went out to a mosquito haven, Dad would light a cigar, heat the pickup cab so we would start to sweat, fill the pickup cab with cigar smoke so it stuck all over us - and then we would go out and work with mosquitoes buzzing all around, but not eating us...

Quoted from brinyskysail

Once I stopped eating sugar, I stopped being bothered by bugs

My brother once told me it was because I ate too many sweets and didn't eat all my vegetables.  I was 5yo; he was 12.

I used to get eaten up prior to starting the BTD.  Now i never get bitten, though everyone around me usually gets eaten alive.  

It could just be a coincidence, but i think the BTD diet has something to do with it.  I also have a sweet tooth, but i don't eat as much as i used to prior to the BTD.

It's just not fair that I'm almost completely sugar-free and still get eaten alive by mosquitoes...!

Quoted from Drea

It's just not fair that I'm almost completely sugar-free and still get eaten alive by mosquitoes...!

I guess you're just naturally sweet!

Quoted from Kim

When we are outside, the mosquitos leave my Type B husband alone and they annihilate me.

My type A husband never gets bitten and I get eaten alive.

Appareantly BT doesn't determine who gets bitten:

"Now scientists have discovered key differences in the body odours produced by people who are more prone to insect bites compared to those who seem resistant – they have lower levels of fruity smelling compounds in their sweat.

The researchers found that these compounds, known as ketones, repel mosquitoes. People who produce high levels are less likely to be bitten.

They are now developing a new kind of insect repellent to help those whose bodies do not smell so fruity. "

hmm, doesnt it seem like it would be the opposite? more fruity smelling people would attract them?

Maybe we smell like fruit, not people, so they think we're not a protein source?

Don't you produce more ketones when you eat fewer carbs?

An O friend just emailed me from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, complaining of very bad mosquito problems.

Here's how I advised him, if that's your problem too, these days:



Re: Mosquitoes

http://www. (website of store)
The above is a link to (market name in nearby town). Call the phone number listed and ask re natural repellents. Ask if they stock natural essential oils and, if so, consider blending a small amount of essential oil of geranium into a base of a plain vegetable oil carrier such as Sweet Almond Oil. (A 4 oz bottle of the latter should run you under $5. A tiny bottle of geranium oil will be pricier -  starting at $12 but could be higher.) Essential oils are administered by the DROP. A little goes a long way, and geranium oil is very strong, i.e. has good diffusive power to the nose, so be sparing.

I would rub a geranium dilution over all exposed body parts. Mosquitoes tend not to like it. There are others they don't like (citronella, you've probably heard of; lemongrass is another, but more irritating than geranium).

If you've already been bitten and are itchy, then blend a number of drops of essential oil of lavender (price varies: tiny bottle might start at $8, depending on amount and fineness) into the carrier oil (i.e., the Sweet Almond Oil). It's very soothing. It neutralizes mosquito venom. Essential oil of lavender is not at all irritating. Safe enough for baby, but very diluted is best.

Note: If your local store doesn't carry these, they can probably order these products for you. Or maybe they will sell you something their local customers find helpful.

Good luck.

* * * * *

If he's interested, he'll reply for more detailed blending info, for example.
As for the rest of you, take along some of these ingredients if you're planning trips this summer to places likely to be mosquito-infested.

Hah...well it seems my non secretor status might actually play a role at least for me, they don't bite me and I just found out that I'm a non-secretor...??

Thanks, San J!  Taking notes.  I'm going to give this a try.

There's another thread and a poll!  http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1256954637/s-24/highlight-mosquito/#num24

Please vote!