June is possibly the only time of year when scratching in public is acceptable. This year I have involuntarily given my blood to midges, mosquitoes and the completely-new-to-me Blandford fly, which is surely the most hideous creature ever to have lived. Biting bugs are out in force after the wet spring so the chances of being eaten alive are high.

If you, like me, seem to be irresistible to bugs while your friends go home bite-free, you may be interested to know what it is that makes you so delicious!

Let’s begin by dispelling some myths. I spent the summer of 1995 eating lashings of Vegemite and litres of Berocca having heard that vitamin B put the mozzies off.

I may have had a lot of energy but I also had just as many bites. The vitamin B myth is unfortunately not backed up by evidence. Neither are the hoards of gimmicks on the market from the ultra-sonic to the homeopathic. If you look beyond the nice packaging and the sales claims there is no current scientific evidence to suggest they are effective.

The reality is that like most relationships between predators and their prey there is a complex connection between biting insects and humans.

Looking at mosquitos specifically, female mosquitos suck blood to get protein needed for their eggs (male mosquitos only feed on nectar). There is evidence to suggest that you will get bitten more if you: n Give off more than average amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2): Aside from the fact that CO2 is a pretty reliable indicator that you are alive, mosquitos have a specialised organ called a maxillary palp that can detect tiny amounts of CO2 from 160 feet away! Women produce 21 per cent more CO2 when they are pregnant making them particularly tasty targets.

n Are blood group O: Though it isn’t completely clear why, Blood group O is the food of choice for biting insects. Interestingly it is not just about which blood group you are but also how well you advertise what’s pumping through your veins. Your genes determine whether or not you will secrete chemical signals showing what your blood group is. About 15 per cent of the population don’t give off these chemical signals making them less visible to blood sucking predators. Quite a nifty genetic mutation if you can get it!

n Are drinking beer: Maybe mosquitos are good at taking advantage of beer drinkers because they tend to sit more still, maybe the sense-dulling effects of the alcohol mean they swat the pests less or maybe mosquitos just like beer. We don’t really know why but it is true that even a single 12 ounce can of beer will get those mozzies excited.

The most effective protection against mosquitos and other biting insects remains – cover up with clothes and DEET. The irritating truth is that genetic factors are the main reason why you are more or less delicious and it is your genes that will make the difference between you being chosen as a mozzies meal over your mate.