Hacker News Reader

Comment by xorcist | Hacker News Reader

Flexing your muscles was a weird myth I hadn't heard before, but it's not hard to trap a mosquito on your skin by stretching the skin with two fingers. You have to find the right grip, stretch the skin quite hard and not let go.

It takes some time, you will get a mosquito bite from it, but it doesn't end well for the mosquito which you may or may not find satisfaction in. It might help being young and a bit bored.

View on HN

Weird thing is, it’s not a myth. Maybe flexing muscles is the same mechanism you describe where it’s stretching the skin. I think the PhD author hasn’t spent enough time in the gym to have muscles large enough to adequately stretch skin :)

As kids we would tell each other about the flex trick, it worked fine on tiger mosquitoes for example. The reason we didn't continue is that it would cause a larger more aggravating welt.

Yes, I’d expect this trick to leave some of the mosquito proboscis in the wound. It sounds like an awful idea.

Fascinating. Never heard about it before. Do you have to wait for one to settle at exactly the right spot, or is it more forgiving? Which muscles is the easiest?

Biceps for best viewing.

My PI spent plenty of time in the gym during his PhD working up to a 700lbs squat. Not sure why you think students don't have time to lift

Op was poking at a stereotype, relax and try not to take things so personally.

700 is monstrous. I only know of one computer scientist to hit that level. Famous in several worlds. You must be in graphics.

Nope, not in computer science

Can confirm the young and bored portion. We used to do this when camping as a kid. Also if you're careful you can pinch the skin and hold them in place as well.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com