I went outside this morning for a little quiet time before the day got rolling – but it didn't last long. When I noticed how many mosquitoes were landing on me I headed straight back inside.

Fortunately, I've never been one of those people who is too bothered by mosquitoes. Wondering just what makes a person more likely to be bitten and to react to mosquito bites, I found the following facts presented in WebMD's Are You a Mosquito Magnet? quite helpful:

• Mosquitoes do have "favorites." Jerry Butler, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida tells us, "One in 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes."


• Only female mosquitoes bite. They need human blood in order to develop their eggs.


• Genetics account for 85 percent of whether mosquitoes find us delectable.


• Elements of our body chemistry on the skin's surface can also attract mosquitoes. These include higher concentrations of steroids or cholesterol. But the connection is not as straightforward as you might think; those with more cholesterol on their skin may not have higher cholesterol levels, but rather be more efficient at processing it, leaving a greater amount of byproducts on their skin.


• Certain body acids, such as uric acid, also lure mosquitoes.


• Movement and carbon dioxide also attract mosquitoes. This is why those who are exercising outdoors tend to receive more bites.

Tune in Monday for tips on how to protect yourself from mosquitoes!