Nutrition expert reveals what really attracts mosquitoes and ticks

Short and sweet. Nobody knows. On the one hand, there's no scientifically sound evidence that human diet has a direct influence on the "attractiveness" of ticks and mosquitoes, i.e., that it attracts them. On the other hand, there's also no proof that certain foods or individual nutrients reliably keep the little pests away after consumption.

Even the well-intentioned and often quoted tip "Eating garlic helps against mosquitoes" is nothing more than a myth: Even if garlic is a very “potent natural germ killer”, mosquitoes and ticks are not deterred by it - but some people are.

Uwe Knop, born in 1972, is a qualified nutritionist, author, and speaker for lectures at professional associations, companies, and medical training courses.

Correct – this is one of the many nutritional myths that certain foods make our blood "sweeter" and thus more attractive to parasites. The claim "mosquitoes like sweet blood" is nothing more than a "nice story" that circulates every year with the mosquitoes in the summer.

On the one hand , there is no such thing as "sweet blood ." On the other hand, mosquitoes don't rely on blood for their orientation (it's usually not "overtly smellable"; it must first be "tapped" through the skin). Instead, they are attracted by the smells we emit. Therefore, why someone gets bitten depends on many factors, but certainly not on "sweet blood."

In this context, let's "bust" another myth: The bloodsuckers are n't attracted to light either. Ticks and mosquitoes don't care whether you're sitting in the light or dark at night.

These small bloodsuckers are primarily attracted by various factors that indicate the presence of a potential host (such as humans). They have special organs that can detect very specific host odors emitted by us warm-blooded animals. These include, in particular, ammonia and butyric acid (both components of sweat ), as well as carbon dioxide (CO2), which is produced when we exhale . They also react to the body heat we radiate.

Yes, there is something to that - and indirectly: If you like to treat yourself to a few cold beers, ice-cold gin, wine or other alcoholic beverages on hot summer evenings, you should be aware of the indirect effect of alcohol on your body odor: The drinks cause our blood vessels to expand - and this, in turn, increases both blood circulation and sweat production.

More sweat results in more body odor and thus a larger cocktail of mosquito attractants. For some people, alcohol consumption also leads to faster breathing —resulting in more CO2 being released. Thus, blood-sucking parasites are doubly attracted to alcohol consumption.

This article is from the EXPERTS Circle – a network of selected experts with in-depth knowledge and many years of experience. The content is based on individual assessments and is aligned with the current state of science and practice.