You probably didn't know this about mosquitoes:

They love fat and sweaty people

I am in Italy where everything is heavenly and wonderful, except for one thing: the mosquito. It's August so they are dappertutto. They buzz around your head all night (how can such a small creature make so much noise?) and are just not annoying enough to turn on the light and sweep them out the window, but certainly annoying enough to give you a rotten and restless night. And why do they pick one person and not another?

Body weight

Sorry, confronting: the mosquito seems to prefer heavier people. The heavier you are, the more carbon dioxide you exhale. And mosquitoes just love that. I keep wondering why they bite my children all over and not me, because they are much lighter. But apparently, pregnant women are the ultimate prey.

Your body temperature

If you've just run a lap or been horizontally active in the bedroom, then you're likely to become a victim of the mosquito. By the way, did you know that only female mosquitoes bite? The bitches.

Your blood type

If you have blood type A, you probably stay out of the line of fire. With blood type O, you're in trouble when it comes to mosquitoes.

Your perfume

Tip: don't wear floral perfume, they actually like that. It even seems that if you wear a floral print , you have a higher chance of unwanted mosquito visits, although I must say that seems very unlikely to me.

Is there anything you can do about it?

Lemon helps a bit, but not much. The only thing that really works is DEET. And if you've been bitten, toothpaste or Vicks seems to help.

A consolation: it's almost autumn again and then we won't have to deal with it anymore.