In the 2009 movie "Land of the Lost," when a mosquito of gargantuan proportions bites Will Farrell, he seems oddly oblivious. But for 20 percent of people with just the right blood type, metabolism, or a love of beer, being bitten by mosquitoes (over and over) can cause anxiety, itching and more itching.

What makes you mosquito bait? Skeeters favor folks with blood type O twice as much as those with type A; B is in between. And 85 percent of folks secrete a chemical signal through their skin announcing their blood type to tuned-in mosquitos.

The pests also can smell appealing (to them) lactic acid, uric acid, and ammonia mixed in with sweat. They like higher body temps, too. So, these chemicals can make you a target — especially when you exercise.

Your skin's naturally occurring bacteria also can say "bite me!" And drinking just 12 ounces of beer can make you an absolute mosquito magnet.

How can you keep these gals (only female mosquitoes bite) at bay without pesticides?

• One study found that rubbing 32 percent lemon eucalyptus oil on your skin offers 95 percent protection for three hours. But it’s not for kids under 3 years old.

• Five percent thyme oil on skin offers (lab animals) 91 percent protection. Make it with four drops per teaspoon of olive oil.

• Catnip oil on your skin is 10 times more effective than DEET, according to a University of Iowa study.

That’s just scratching the surface of alternative skeeter repellants, but we hope you'll bite, and give them a try.