Fatal Attraction: Why are mosquitoes attracted to certain people?

[This instructional video will help you find out what makes the menacing mosquito tick/YouTube]

With the return of Spring comes the opportunity to finally get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. It also means the return of nature’s pest: mosquitoes.

If you have ever wondered: Why do these annoying insects seem to swarm only to you, while leaving your friends free from having to deal with irritating bug bites?

Tech Insider wondered the same thing, and put together this helpful video that sheds light on what exactly attracts these bloodsuckers to certain people.

Turns out the reason mosquitoes flock to certain individuals has nothing to do with what your blood tastes like. Instead depends on what’s happening on your skin at a microscopic level.

Different combinations of bacteria living on the surface of your skin each give off certain distinct smells. So, if you happen to have the right combination of bacteria, your unique scent could help make you an instant target of a mosquito’s gaze.

Strenuous activities will also attract mosquitoes, they report. That’s thanks to an increased body temperature, because of the lactic acid contained in your sweat and carbon dioxide given off when you exhale.

And it turns out mosquitoes are also attracted to beer drinkers. So keep that in mind next time you decide to to indulge in a couple of beverages outside.

Using a good repellant, containing either DEET or Permethrin, is likely your best strategy for avoiding mosquitoes. It’s also in your best interest to avoid getting swarmed by these insects as much as possible.

Not only are mosquito bites a source of constant irritation, but in many parts of the world these pesky insects are also responsible for serious health concerns as well.

For example, mosquitoes have been called the most dangerous animals in the world due to the part they play in spreading blood-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and the Zika virus.