Study Finds Mosquitoes Each Prefer Different People

Florida International University researchers found that three mosquito species were each drawn to a different group of human volunteers.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Life Sciences

Macro photograph of a mosquito resting on a warm patch of bare skin against a soft, blurred neutral background. — A Florida International University study found three mosquito species each preferred a different group among 119 human volunteers, with no volunteer attracting all three. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you use mosquito repellent regularly when outdoors in mosquito season?

Researchers from Florida International University published a study in iScience testing 119 human volunteers against three mosquito species: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus. No volunteer attracted all three species, and each species favored a different group of people.

Why it matters

Understanding why mosquitoes bite some people more than others could help scientists develop better tools to reduce bites and the spread of mosquito-borne disease. Malaria alone caused approximately 610,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, underscoring the stakes of such research.

The study compared 119 volunteers across three mosquito species, finding that no individual drew all three species equally. Researchers have not yet identified the specific skin compounds that drive each species' preference.

The players

Florida International University

A public research university in Miami whose researchers conducted the mosquito attraction study published in iScience.

The details

Researchers collected skin and body odour samples from the volunteers and tested how each mosquito species responded. Aedes aegypti preferred people not wearing added fragrances, Aedes albopictus was drawn to higher skin ketone levels, and Culex quinquefasciatus showed a strong attraction to the skin microbiome, with certain bacterial groups linked to increased attraction.

Malaria caused approximately 610,000 deaths worldwide in 2023.

Roadmap

Research into why mosquitoes select particular hosts has grown alongside efforts to control mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria. This study moves that line of work toward species-specific explanations of biting behavior.

Identifying which skin compounds attract specific mosquito species could eventually lead to repellents tailored to individual biology. The study does not yet establish any product or treatment that residents can use.

The takeaway

Mosquito attraction is not one-size-fits-all, since different species respond to different people. Because no current repellent is tailored to individual skin chemistry, standard protection like repellents and removing standing water remains the practical step for Floridians.