GoBlog and National Parks Traveler weigh in on the subject of what attracts mosquitoes to people. GoBlog notes that resarchers are just beginning to study genetic factors that might explain why some people attract mosquitoes like pilgrims to Mecca and others are left alone.

I saw this in action over the weekend while camping in a skeeter-prone section of the Sierra. One of the guys in our group started getting attacked furiously the minute we got to camp: the little demons were biting him right through his shirt and harassing him constantly. Another in our party was totally ignored by the bugs on Day One, but had to slather on the Deep Woods Off on Day 2. I have this goofy hat with a bug net stored in the top that does an excellent job of keeping the critters away; that thing, combined with long pants and a long-sleeve shirt, kept the bugs from driving me nuts.

Heck, I was just thankful they weren’t a lot worse.