What turns you into a mosquito magnet? Festival study uncovers beer, bed-sharing, and skin bacteria as bite clues

A real-world study at the Lowlands Festival recruited 450 volunteers to see why mosquitoes bite some people more. Findings point to beer/alcohol consumption, cannabis use, not showering, sharing a bed, and higher levels of skin Streptococcus bacteria as linked to more bites, while diet and blood type showed no clear effect. Sunscreen appeared protective, and while repellents and protective clothing remain the best defense, the study highlights how everyday lifestyle can influence mosquito attraction—at least for the Anopheles stephensi species studied.