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Study finds mosquito attraction varies by species and individual skin chemistry

ScienceDaily reports that a Florida International University study found no single person attracted all three tested mosquito species.

Published Nov 11, 2026 · 07:12 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Florida International University researchers tested three mosquito species against 119 human volunteers in a study published in iScience.[ScienceDaily]
  • No participant attracted all three species, and each species preferred people with different skin odor or microbiome traits.[ScienceDaily]
  • Lead researcher Matthew DeGennaro said isolating odor components could lead to novel strategies against vector-borne diseases, but the reporting describes no specific product.[ScienceDaily]

Key facts

  • Florida International University researchers tested three mosquito species against 119 human volunteers in a study published in iScience.[ScienceDaily]
  • No participant attracted all three tested mosquito species.[ScienceDaily]
  • Aedes aegypti favored people not wearing added fragrances and with lower levels of certain volatile skin chemicals, with a slight preference for men over women.[ScienceDaily]
  • Aedes albopictus was particularly attracted to people whose skin released higher levels of ketones and plant-like volatile compounds.[ScienceDaily]
  • Culex quinquefasciatus appeared especially sensitive to the skin microbiome.[ScienceDaily]
  • Matthew DeGennaro, who leads the research team, said isolating components of human odor that attract or repel mosquitoes could lead to novel strategies against vector-borne diseases.[ScienceDaily]

What remains uncertain

  • The findings come from a single study of 119 volunteers, and the reporting does not establish how broadly they apply to other people or settings.[ScienceDaily]
  • The reporting describes the potential for new repellent strategies only in general terms and does not say whether any product is in development or testing.[ScienceDaily]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.