It’s a warm summer evening in Msida Creek, the sun dipping below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. Boats gently bob on the water, and the air is filled with the hum of activity. But for some, this idyllic scene is marred by an unwanted symphony – the high-pitched whine of mosquitoes. While everyone seems to attract their fair share of these pesky critters, a few unlucky souls seem to be mosquito magnets. But why?

Scientists have long known that mosquitoes are drawn to certain people more than others. One of the main reasons is blood type. A study by the University of California, Irvine, found that mosquitoes are more attracted to people with Type O blood. In fact, those with Type O are twice as likely to be bitten as those with Type A. So, if you’re a Maltese O-negative like 47% of the population, you might be a mosquito’s dream dinner.

But why the preference? It’s all about smell. Our blood type influences our body odor, and mosquitoes are drawn to the scent of Type O blood. Unfortunately for those with Type O, this scent is particularly strong to mosquitoes, making them more likely to be bitten.

Another reason some people are mosquito magnets is the amount of carbon dioxide they exhale. Mosquitoes are drawn to carbon dioxide like moths to a flame. The more carbon dioxide you exhale, the more likely you are to be bitten. This is why pregnant women and heavy exercisers often report more mosquito bites – they’re exhaling more carbon dioxide.

In Malta, where the air is often filled with the scent of jasmine and orange blossoms, the carbon dioxide from bustling streets like Republic Street in Valletta can create a perfect storm for mosquitoes. The more people, the more carbon dioxide, the more mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes are also attracted to body heat. The warmer you are, the more likely you are to be bitten. This is why you’re more likely to be bitten on a hot summer’s day in Malta than on a cool winter’s evening. It’s also why mosquitoes are more active at dawn and dusk – that’s when our body temperature is at its highest.

But it’s not just about the heat. Mosquitoes are also drawn to the lactic acid we produce when we sweat. So, if you’re out for a run along the Sliema Promenade on a hot day, you’re not just working up a sweat, you’re also working up an appetite in the local mosquito population.

So, if you’re a mosquito magnet, what can you do? Unfortunately, you can’t change your blood type or the amount of carbon dioxide you exhale. But you can dress in light colors and long sleeves, use insect repellent, and avoid being outside at dawn and dusk. You could also try to keep your body temperature down by staying in the shade and avoiding heavy exercise outdoors.

And remember, while mosquitoes might seem like a nuisance, they’re also a serious health risk. They can carry diseases like malaria and dengue fever. So, it’s important to protect yourself, not just from the bites, but also from the diseases they can carry.

As Dr. Joseph Debono, a local entomologist, puts it, “Mosquitoes are a part of life in Malta, but that doesn’t mean we have to put up with their bites. Understanding why some of us are more attractive to them can help us protect ourselves and stay healthy.”