When the weather gets warm, there’s just about nothing better than spending time in the great outdoors. From backyard barbecues and pool parties to camping trips and long beach days, the summertime is arguably the best season of them all. And while we are certainly firm believers in “the more, the merrier,” there is one rude guest that we could totally live without: mosquitoes.
The bane of summer, the pesky little vampires are a real pain in the derriere. They buzz, they bite, and they leave behind red itchy welts that can leave us scratching for days. Not to mention they transmit life-threatening diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and dengue; it’s probably pretty safe to say that no one on the planet is a fan of these biting buzzy bugs.
That being said, if you are the type of person who ends up as a mosquito target every year, you might be wondering why Mother Nature’s biggest annoyance is so obsessed with you. And while we’re sure you wish you’d much rather be a good luck magnet over a mosquito magnet, the truth is that just like how you might prefer brunettes over blondes — mosquitoes have preferences.
The blood-thirsty winged beasts are drawn to certain blood types, making some unfortunate souls much more desirable (or should we say tasty?) to mosquitoes than others.
Interested in learning more? The Natural Patch Co. has your back! Read on to discover everything you need to know about hungry mosquitoes and their favorite blood type.
Why Mosquitoes Are So Obsessed With You
Is it your great looks? Your witty charm? The sparkle in your eye? Nope, as a matter of fact, mosquitoes don’t care what you look like or how awesome your personality is. For these little monsters, the only thing that matters to them is your very appealing blood. But not just any blood.
You see, skeeters are a lot like finicky toddlers — they like what they like, and they don’t like what they don’t like. In other words, mosquitoes are picky eaters. Like your tiny tots love for a certain food, the biting bugs have a hankering for a certain blood type.
And what blood type do the little vampires fancy most, you ask?
Type O blood.
What Is Type O Blood?
As you probably already know, we all have a blood type. Our blood types determine who you can give blood to and receive blood from. Categorizing blood according to type helps prevent reactions when someone gets a blood transfusion.
That being said, of all the blood types, type O tends to be the most special. Why? Well, not only is it a mosquito’s favorite item on the menu but those with this blood type are considered “universal donors,” meaning they can donate their red blood cells to anybody.
Do Mosquitoes Like Any Other Blood Types?
While type O blood appears to be held on a pedal stool in the world of mosquitoes, according to many studies, they do enjoy sucking other blood types as well.
In order, here’s how the blood types stack up:
- First Place: Type O is the fan-favorite
- Second Place: Type B comes in second
- Third Place: Type A apparently tastes the worst to the picky eaters, with a study finding that those with this blood type are 50 percent less likely to receive a skeeter bite than those with type O.
In addition to this, researchers also found that around 85 percent of us actually secrete a powerful chemical signal through our skin that essentially advertises what our blood type is. This can mean a lot of itchy days for those unlucky enough to secrete this chemical, as well as having type O blood.
How To Break Up With Mosquitoes
Like an annoying ex who won’t go away, if you have type O blood, the winged beasts are here to stay. But don’t worry: while your blood might be a delicacy to the little suckers, there are things you can do to keep them at bay.
Here are a few tips on how to break up with mosquitoes:
Tip #1: Change Your Scent
If the pesky pests are able to hunt you down by the alluring scent of chemicals seeping through your skin, alerting them to your precious type O blood, one of the easiest ways to avoid them is by simply changing — or masking — your scent.
To do this, you can try lighting a few citronella candles or even rub fresh cloves of garlic all over your skin. However, for a simpler approach, we suggest trying our awesome Mosquito Repellent Patches: BuzzPatch!
Using all-natural ingredients and absolutely no icky chemicals, our patches confuse the thirsty bloodsuckers by emitting a particular scent that makes kids virtually undetectable to them. And the best part? Unlike traditional bug sprays, BuzzPatch smells great — well, to humans, at least!
Tip #2: Eliminate Standing Water
Mosquitoes love standing water almost as much as they love your delicious type O blood. Why? Because some species require the wet stuff to reproduce and make more buzzy fliers. To reduce the mosquito population around your yard to prevent itchy bites, try to limit any standing water by draining it from things like wading pools and empty flower pots.
Tip #3: Blow Them Away
Almost any breeze makes it very difficult for mosquitoes to fly. So, if you’re trying to enjoy your backyard, try plugging in a fan or two. Just keep the flow of air directed at your body, and you’ll be good to go.
Tip #4: Stay Cool
Of course, this can be much easier said than done during the dog days of the summer, but mosquitoes are addicted to the pheromones released in sweat. If you’re particularly sweaty, head inside for a nice cold shower to cool off — or simply put on one of our Mosquito Repellent Patches and enjoy the day, itch-free.
Got Type O? Tell Those Pesky Skeeters NO!
So, what is a mosquito’s favorite blood type, you ask?
While the pesky insects love all blood, according to research, they do prefer type O blood. That being said, just because your blood isn’t a skeeter's first choice doesn’t mean it won’t dine on your flesh.
Keep yourself and your loved ones protected from itchy bites as well as mosquito-borne illnesses, and check out our all-natural Mosquito Repellent Patches! Designed with you and your tiny tots in mind, our non-woven fabric patches are infused with a combination of kid-friendly essential oils and absolutely no chemicals or harsh ingredients.
Say goodbye to biting mosquitoes the natural way, and try BuzzPatch today!
Sources:
Blood Types Explained - A, B, AB and O | Red Cross Blood Services
Mosquito-Borne Diseases | NIOSH
New study finds mosquitoes don't just lay eggs in standing water | CBC
