ORONO, Maine — There may be a simple reason why biting bugs seem to go after some people and not others.

Those bug-bitten victims may just taste better to mosquitoes and black flies, says University of Maine entomologist Clay Kirby.

Kirby said there’s no scientific evidence to support the belief that bugs prefer some humans to others, but that the theory is “experientially confirmed.”

“I would tend to give some credence to it. Some people may just be tastier than others,” said Kirby.

To avoid becoming a bug’s next meal, Kirby recommends wearing light-colored clothing since mosquitoes and black flies seem to be attracted to dark clothes.

Then again, bad breath may be the key to keeping the critters away. Kirby said garlic and onion breath seems to repel biting bugs.

He acknowledged there may be some disadvantages to relying on such a diet to keep the bugs away.

“Going the garlic route might keep people away, too,” he said.

Mosquitoes and black flies also seem to be repelled by people who taste like B-vitamins or brewers’ yeast, he said.

The fashion conscious may rather itch their bug bites than follow some of Kirby’s home-grown bug repelling tips.

For example, he suggests tucking one’s pant legs into knee socks when out-of-doors. To discourage the most determined bugs, the entomologist prefers wearing a full-body net cover. He recommends topping that off with a hard hat smeared with cooking oil, a gooey head-top trap for bugs that have evaded your garlic breath.

Kirby also recommends burning citronella candles and dried out cattails to keep the biting bugs away.

Kirby is hoping the bug bitten will get in touch with him and let him know how his bug repelling tips work.

“I’d be interested in feedback about these home remedies, ” he said. “We don’t want to give people false hope.”