Are You A Mosquito Magnet?

The science behind mosquito attraction

You’ve probably never thought of mosquitoes as anything but an annoyance, but when you dig into the science behind mosquito attraction, it’s actually quite fascinating. Scientists have done a lot of studies to determine which factors can make a person a mosquito magnet. Although some of them will come as no surprise, others might be new to you.

• Carbon dioxide: Mosquitoes are drawn to your exhalations, so any breathing might attract them, but if you’re working out and breathing heavily, you might attract more.
• Body heat and sweat: The body heat and sweat you generate during a workout can also attract mosquitoes. It’s been found that the ammonia and lactic acid in sweat are what mosquitoes are specifically attracted to.
• Blood type: Although studies have had mixed results, some indicate that people with Type O blood are more attractive to mosquitoes.
• Pregnancy: Mosquitoes are more attracted to pregnant women, likely due to their increased body heat and carbon dioxide output.
• Alcohol consumption: Mosquitoes seem to be drawn to people who have consumed alcohol, and beer in particular.
• Dark clothing: Mosquitoes are drawn to dark and bright colors, such as black, navy, and red. This may be due in part to the fact that dark colors absorb more heat, and in part because they eat flower nectar and most flowers are bright in color.

Personal tips to avoid being a mosquito magnet

Once you know what personal factors might be attracting mosquitoes, you can take steps to avoid these attractants whenever possible. When you can’t avoid them, there are other steps you can take to make yourself less appealing to mosquitoes.

• Consider working out indoors.
• Shower and change your clothing after a workout.
• Avoid consuming alcohol outdoors.
• Wear light-colored clothing when outside.
• Use an insect repellent with DEET when spending time outside.
• Avoid wearing scented lotions, perfumes, shampoos, and deodorants.

Yard and outdoor space mosquito prevention tips

Thankfully, your quest to stop being a mosquito magnet doesn’t have to end with your attempts to make yourself personally less attractive to these pests. The best way to avoid mosquitoes is to make your yard less attractive to them. If they don’t come onto your property in the first place, you won’t have to fight them off.

When it comes to mosquito prevention, there are two major things you can do to reduce their numbers.

Reduce moisture on your property

Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. They will not spend a lot of time in areas that lack moisture. To reduce moisture around your property:

• Remove bird baths and pet water dishes.
• Check planters and gutters to ensure no water has built up in them.
• Make sure your property has a good drainage system in place.
• Inspect water lines and outdoor faucets for leaks.
• Cut back vegetation to reduce moisture.

Maintain your yard

Adult mosquitoes spend their days resting in shaded areas. Reducing these areas will help you reduce mosquito harborage areas. Do this by:

• Keeping your grass trimmed.
• Cutting back shrubs and trees around the perimeter of your house.
• Storing firewood and other items away from your house.
• Removing debris from your yard.

Year-round mosquito control for Tampa Bay residents

In addition to DIY mosquito prevention, implementing a year-round mosquito control plan is the best way to make yourself less likely to be a mosquito magnet. Routine mosquito treatments keep mosquito populations low so that far fewer are around to look for you.

Although mosquitoes prefer hot weather, they can remain active even in cooler temperatures. In Largo, Riverview, Tampa, and throughout the Tampa Bay region, we usually see a decrease in mosquito activity in the winter, but they can stay active most of the year, and once the weather warms up in spring, the population explodes. That’s why year-round mosquito control is the best way to keep mosquitoes off your property.

Anti-Pesto provides year-round mosquito control that targets both adult and larval mosquitoes. By reducing the number of breeding mosquitoes and stopping their larvae from developing, we can keep the mosquito population around your property to a barely noticeable number.

While you may not be able to change your blood type or may not be willing to give up having your favorite drink outside on a nice evening, you can take steps to make yourself and your yard far less attractive to mosquitoes. Let Anti-Pesto Bug Killers help you stop being a mosquito magnet. Contact us to schedule your mosquito inspection today.