Why do insects prefer to bite certain people?

CrowdScience

• Episode: Why do insects prefer to bite certain people?
• Website: CrowdScience
• Feed URL: https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p04d42rc.rss
• Duration: 00:36:16
• Published: 2020-02-21 22:30

A lovely day out in the countryside can be blighted when swarms of midges or mosquitos invite themselves to the party. A CrowdScience listener in New Zealand has noticed that, when sand-flies come a-biting, she and her daughter are targeted, while her husband and other daughter escape unharmed. She wants to know why some, but not all of her family become bait for insect bites. CrowdScience delves into a world of smells, called semiochemistry, which explores the aromas one animal uses to attract or repel another. Does our attractiveness as a blood meal to insects come down to what we wear, what we’ve eaten or is it all in our genes? Host Marnie Chesterton discards the DEET and bravely offers herself up as a meal for mozzies, in a quest for answers. (Photo:Mosquito on skin. Credit: Getty Images)