Your body odour could be the reason mosquitos are attracted to you.

You are on a date with a woman you have been eying for quite a while. She finally agreed to one date. And since she feels well in control, she determined when she is available and as a desperate suitor you have to curl your tail between your legs and accept it cordially.

Date night comes and since you couldn't beat traffic, you hurriedly connect to the five star establishment you were ordered to present yourself. All is well; at least you made it at the nick of time.

There is one glaring problem though: your sweaty body has used up all the cologne. When the wind wafts by everyone looks your way. But something else is going on – the mosquitoes love you so much they don't seem to leave you for a microsecond. You think it's odd that they prefer you. For a moment, you think it's because you are the closest to the balcony. But no, they are merely confirming your worst fears: that your date will up and leave before you take your first sip from the wine glass because you already have too much company. Then you realize, man, your body odour has worked the insects up.

After the date ends miserably, with your ego on the rails, only then does the matter become a health concern. Your body odour is what attracts the vampires. Paying the bill becomes the easiest part.

A study published by Plos One suggests that body odour, determined by our own genes, is the reason why mosquitoes prefer certain individuals than others.

According to Dr Dunstan Mukoko of the ministry of health, body odour are the markers that mosquito uses to trail its meal. "This means essentially that everybody (who sweats) attracts not only mosquitoes but other insects too," he says.

Odour, he adds, is evoked by a combination of carbon dioxide (from the skin and the mouth), chemicals contained in sweat, and hormones contained in breath.

In an interview first carried by ABC News, Richard Pollack, an instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health said that the insects are so adept at "figuring out where their target is by following these [smell] trails."

The researchers responsible for the study are the first to make a genetic connection to the body odour. Studies carried out earlier have shown that a particular type [and amount of naturally occurring bacteria] on the skin may make people prime targets. The bacteria respire on the body's excretory wastes, producing pungent effusions.

Suppressing the body's smell using insect repellants or body sprays may not help as Mukoko says that the insects rely on even the slightest whiff to hone in on a victim.

The best way therefore would be to stay indoors where the insects have no access.

CDC experts have explained that lactic acid in sweat is the main ingredient that mosquitoes seek. Many produce more lactic acid when they're exercising; which explains why they tend to attract more mosquitoes during rigorous activities.

But it is not only odour that attracts mosquitoes: heat and blood type have been linked to mosquito preferences. Smell is however the culprit with the largest responsibility. You may need to take time scrubbing up in the bathroom... lest you be left on a date with mosquitoes all hunkering for your attention.