6 Things That Attract Mosquitoes

What are some things that attract mosquitoes?

1. Blood and breath
2. Body odor
3. Dark colors
4. Floral scents
5. Stagnant water
6. Cool, dark places

 

For a long time now, mosquitoes have been a problem in the Philippines. These insects are deadly because of their ability to rapidly spread disease. A good example is how the dengue fever outbreak was notoriously caused by mosquitoes. Malaria is also widespread. In fact, mosquitoes kill around 725,000 humans every year, being named as the world’s deadliest animal.

This means we need to find out the things that attract mosquitoes to understand them better and learn how to control these outbreaks. Mosquito attraction has been heavily researched through the years, and we’ve compiled in a short list the most attractive things to a mosquito. Read on to find out!

 

Blood and breath

Mosquitoes are insects that naturally feed on blood and nectar. It is the female mosquitoes who primarily need blood, and humans are definitely on the menu. Because of this, mosquitoes have a special liking for some substances and chemicals that our bodies produce. This dictates their instinct on where to get the blood that they need.

Do you know what your blood type is? We’ve never known mosquitoes to be picky eaters. But believe it or not, mosquitoes are more attracted to some blood types than others. People with type O blood are apparently more appetizing to mosquitoes than others!

These insects are also attracted to the carbon dioxide that we all exhale. Some speculate that the heat of our breath is a factor too. Recent studies add that lactic acid also attracts mosquitoes to us. Since our breath is a mix of chemicals such as both carbon dioxide and lactic acid, it becomes an appetizer for the mosquitoes.

 

Body odor

They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This time, one man’s body odor is another mosquito’s next meal. The body odor we have that comes from our sweat and other secretions could cause a mouthwatering reaction to mosquitoes (if they had mouths!)

This means that if you’re exercising, with the combination of sweat, body odor, and increased breathing rate and body heat, you start to look like the juiciest dinner for mosquitoes around!

The stuff we eat and drink also affects the secretions we produce, like lactic acid. This means that downing a beer after that workout will make you even more attractive to mosquitoes!

Quickly dry yourself, cool down with a drink of water, and cover yourself with repellant to avoid getting bitten.

 

Dark colors

Mosquitoes are not known for their eyesight. For whatever reason, they seem to be more attracted to darker colors. They can’t tell colors apart as well as we do, so maybe the strength of the color you are wearing will make you more detectable. It will serve as a signal to mosquitoes that something is nearby.

Wearing dark clothes outside will make you a bigger target for mosquitoes, so make sure you wear lighter coloring outside!

 

Floral Scents

Male mosquitoes feed on nectar from flowers. While female mosquitoes are the ones who like blood, the scent of flowers still contributes to what they find attractive. What scents do your skin products use?

If your lotion, perfume, or other products smell like flowers, then it might be attracting more mosquitoes for you. Consider using different scents to avoid more mosquitoes. Or if you want, there are some floral-scented mosquito repellants out there too!

 

Stagnant water

When the dengue outbreak was at its peak, we were always reminded to avoid stagnant water. We should spill the water collecting in old tires, washing basins, and other places where water could collect. This is because stagnant water can attract mosquitoes as well.

Mosquitoes breed and lay eggs in stagnant water. Not only would spilling water avoid attracting mosquitoes, but it could also possibly eliminate eggs in the water. The fewer mosquitoes there are, the fewer vectors for disease are active.

 

Cool, dark places

Humans are not the only animals who try to steer clear of the heat. Mosquitoes also like to rest in cool, dark places, away from the heat of the sun. Tall plants often provide good shade for mosquitoes, and they can collect stagnant water from the rain. In other words, mosquitoes love vegetation too!

Keeping your plants properly trimmed and free of standing water should help.

 

Key takeaway

If your home has all these things that attract mosquitoes, then it might be a breeding ground for disease. Mosquitoes are deadly animals, and it should be our priority to protect our families from the diseases that they carry, especially in the summer.

Do you often notice mosquitoes hovering around in your home? Do you always get bites despite using repellants? Then you might need professional help. Well, you’re in the right place! We offer mosquito prevention and control, along with other pest control services! Just send us a message here and we’ll set things up!