Today, I’m going to answer locked-up time lady’s BIG question.

今天我要回答來自「時光越獄小姐」的大疑惑，

" Why do mosquitoes prefer biting some people to others? "

「為什麼蚊子總愛叮某些人？」

" Is there something we can avoid doing or do besides using repellent like eat bananas?"

「除了使用驅蚊用品之外，可以做什麼措施來預防被蚊子叮，例如吃香蕉？」

Well, time lady, you’re right that mosquitoes have preferences.

這麼說，這位時光小姐，妳對於蚊子有偏好的觀點是正確的。

10-20% of people happen to get bit more than others.

有 10-20% 的人確實比其他人更容易被叮。

And there are a few possible reasons for this, which I’m going to tell you about today.

下面幾個可能的原因，就是我今天要和妳解釋的。

Let’s get started!

我們開始吧！

Experts estimate that around 85% of the reason that mosquitoes prefer YOU is genetic, so you’re pretty much born with it.

專家估計，約 85% 的原因在於「你」的基因，所以這幾乎是天註定的。

It's not your good looks, sorry about that.

很抱歉這不是因為你長的多好看。

Mosquitoes will especially come after you if you have the perfect combination of genetics and scent.

如果你擁有的基因和氣味，符合蚊子的胃，牠就會來了。

Bon appétit.

好好享用。

There’s also stuff on your skin that attracts them.

皮膚表層也會有吸引蚊子的因子。

You’ll probably suffer more bites if you happen to produce more lactic acid, which comes from your sweat glands.

如果你汗腺分泌發達，皮膚表面產生較多乳酸，你可能會被叮更多包。

And in 1999, it was observed that mosquitoes who carry malaria are most attracted to sweat that had been sitting on skin for a day or two, rather than fresh sweat.

在 1999 年，就發現皮膚上有殘留一至兩天汗液的人，會比剛出汗的皮膚更容易吸引瘧疾病媒蚊。

They’ll also prefer you if you have more of THESE bacteria living on your skin.

蚊子也比較愛皮膚上葡萄球菌、貪食菌量高的人。

People who have more of THESE will have less mosquitoes to worry about.

若身上有較多假單孢菌、纖毛菌、代夫特菌、放線菌，則不太會被叮。

Blood type might have something to do with it, too.

血型也可能會影響。

A 2004 study found that mosquitoes were twice as likely to land on people who were Type O rather than Type B.

一項 2004 年的研究發現，蚊子停在 O 型的人身上的機率，是 B 型人的兩倍。

Boy, it would SUCK to be part of that study.

若你有參與這項研究的話，就知道有多惱人。

Type A was even less popular than Type B.

A 型血也沒有 B 型來的受蚊子歡迎。

Plus, around 85% of us have a chemical on our skin that reveals our blood type.

此外，約 85% 人類的皮膚上擁有某種可以判斷血型的化學物質。

Mosquitoes go after those 85% of people more than the 15% who don’t secrete the chemical.

蚊子也傾向叮有分泌化學物質的人那 85% 的人，而非那 15%。

People who produce more carbon dioxide when they exhale are also more likely to get bit.

呼吸時排放較多二氧化碳的人，也更容易被叮咬。

A mosquito can smell this, so it’ll go after them.

蚊子能感受得到，所以才會去叮他們。

Larger people and pregnant women suffer most for this.

體型較大或懷孕的女性，經常是深受其害的目標。

Another interesting group that happens to get bit more often is beer-drinkers.

另一個也容易被蚊子叮的有趣的族群，就是愛喝啤酒的人，

This might be related to carbon dioxide production as well -- people tend to breathe harder after drinking a beer.

可能在於排放較多的二氧化碳，因為人在喝酒後，呼吸會比較費力。

Or, they might be a little warmer and nicer to land on.

或者，皮膚比平常溫熱，而適合蚊子停留。

In your question, you mentioned that eating bananas might help get the mosquitoes go away.

針對你的提問，你提到吃香蕉可以讓蚊子遠離自己。

That’s actually a myth.

這只是個迷思。

Vitamin B-12 won’t work either.

維他命 B-12 也一樣沒有效用。

Experts pretty much recommend your standard old fashioned bug spray.

專家建議使用傳統的防蚊液。

But, some work better than others.

但有些防蚊液特別有用。

Ideally, you should use an insect repellent with around 24% of the chemical DEET.

理論上來說，你應該使用有 24% 防蚊胺的防蚊液。

As usual, it's all in the DEETails. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry about that.

這些成分往往都寫在那些「避蚊案」了，抱歉這笑話有點冷。

Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, made with the help of these lovely skeeters.

感謝收看「Mental Floss」頻道，由可愛的工作人員提供協助與製作。

If you have a question of your own, leave it in the comments below.

如果你還有其他問題，請在下方留言。

See you next week!

我們下周見！