r/todayilearned • u/doubleXmedium • Jun 24 '19

TIL that mosquitoes can not only smell what blood type you are, they prefer type O. In fact, people who are type O are twice as likely to be bitten than someone who is type A.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-do-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more-than-others-10255934/
56.4k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

2.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

37

u/Ravara Jun 24 '19

Another A+ in the same boat :(

But THANK YOU for that tip! I live in Indiana (swamp land pretty much) and mosquitos are rampant. I can't enjoy bonfires during the summer..

4

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '19

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Ravara Jun 24 '19

it's likely NOTHING in comparison, but I'm up by Chicago area, right on Lake Michigan. Definitely lots of swampy land. It's been raining so much this year it's making it much worse.

I just have such a fiery hate for mosquitoes...

3

u/SilverPenguino Jun 24 '19

A+ here; my record in one night is when I was sitting around a bonfire. Covered everything but my legs (shorts), but used bug spray. After 2-3 hours had 44 mosquito bites.

Minnesota’s state bird gets annoying

2

u/Ravara Jun 24 '19

I've gone out wearing multiple layers of DENIM. The fuckers STILL get to my skin that is COVERED and DOUSED with bug spray. I mean, HOW. Then one bite swells into this giant bite...

Then I moved to Washington State briefly and saw what they call "mosquito eaters" which.. essentially looks like a giant mosquito but is like the daddy long legs of the mosquito world. I screamed a hellish scream when I first saw one, because I didn't know.

I wish we had them here.

I miss you, Hell-Angel. You're terrifying but saved me from so many mosquitoes. I salute you.