Ask A Scientist General Science Archive

name         Clay F.
status       student
age          7

Question -   Why do bugs bite certain people and not others?
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Clay,
 
Some bugs (like bees and wasps) will bite people if the person is disturbing the bug's nest.
Some bugs (like pinch-bugs and ants) will bite if they are squeezed or handled.
Some bugs (like mosquitoes) will bite because they like the way a person smells.
 
Regards,
ProfHoff 885
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Hi Clay!
such interesting question! and you are right,
different people attract differently some kind of
mosquitoes. According to Dr. Jerry Butler,
entomologist from University of Florida, mosquitoes
have preferences. Following laboratory tests, usually
in a group of 10 people one is bound to be bitten more
than the other 9.
When a mosquito bite it is looking to draw some 
blood out of its "victim".
The mosquitoes can sniff and find the person that
has the blood more attractive, that is that has more
the substances it needs.
Dr. Butler says that simply by exhaling people can
attract a mosquito from a very long distance.
But just why some odours are more inviting to
mosquitoes than others is still a mystery. 
Butler and his research assistant Karen McKenzie,
however, theorize that mosquitoes need cholesterol and
B vitamins. These substances are secreted through
human skin, but are ones which mosquitoes themselves
cannot make. They can, however, detect which host is
the richest source of those ingredients and bite
accordingly. And Butler suspects that those substances
are simply more plentiful or detectable on some people
more than others. 
You can read more about your question at
 http://www.exn.ca/Bugs/home.cfm?ID=1999082352
 ask your mom or dad to show to you!
and thanks for asking NEWTON!

Mabel
(Dr. Mabel Rodrigues)
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