Why Are Mosquitoes Bugging You?
Here's the buzz on what attracts mosquitoes to your skin and yard.
Scientific Attraction to Humans
While males do not bite, female mosquitoes target a meal of blood to produce more eggs.
But what attracts them to us? Well, mosquitoes have an incredible sense of smell.
✅ Initially, mosquitoes smell the carbon dioxide we exhale when we breathe. A mosquito can sense our breath from thirty feet away. As all animals produce carbon dioxide, the mosquito comes closer to investigate what species we are.
✅ As they buzz near, they smell our unique and identifiable human odor due to a particular combination of body chemicals. So far, all signs point toward a tasty treat, so they come in for a landing.
✅ A mosquito's legs have keen receptors. When she lands, the mosquito feels our body heat and knows she is on a living creature. What attracts mosquitoes to finally take a bite is the taste of our skin and sweat. She has found her favorite meal.
What Attracts Mosquitoes Besides You?
Stagnant or Dormant Water: Mosquitoes can lay viable eggs in less than a quarter-inch of water.
Humidity: Mosquitoes love tropical environments. While they can live anywhere (except Antarctica), they actively seek out moist, muggy areas.
Scents: Sweat and lactic acid are especially attractive to mosquitoes. They find floral, fruity, and steroid (from medication) smells almost as appealing.
Dark Colors: Mosquitoes have excellent night vision, as they hunt in shadows. Dark colors are attractive to them.
Motion: Waving your arms around to shoo them away is actually ineffective. This type of movement signals to them a living animal.
Urine: Be sure you and your pets do your business well away from where you spend time outdoors.
Tall Grass and Untidy Foliage: Natural, wild-grown areas collect moisture and are great places for mosquitoes to hide.
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