Are Mosquitoes More Attracted to Certain People?

If mosquitoes seem to love you, Kettering mosquito control is an important consideration!

Have you ever wondered why mosquitoes seem to target you relentlessly while leaving others around you more or less unbothered? It’s not your imagination. In recent years, scientists have confirmed that mosquitoes are indeed more attracted to certain people than others, which leads us to wonder, how can you better defend yourself against mosquitoes, and what makes mosquitoes attracted to some more than others?

The Science Behind Mosquito Attraction

Considering how widespread mosquitoes are throughout the world, and their role in the spread of the deadly malaria virus, scientists have studied mosquitoes extensively to understand how they select their targets, and what they've discovered is fascinating. Mosquitoes are attracted to people for a huge variety of different reasons, and they boil down to biological and behavioral reasons.

• Body heat and carbon dioxide: Mosquitoes are highly attracted to CO2 since this gas is expelled in the process of respiration by animals, and they can detect the CO2 we exhale from up to 50 feet away. Mosquitoes see in infrared, so warm-blooded animals pop out in their vision.
• Body chemistry and scents: Certain compounds in our sweat, such as lactic acid and ammonia, are another irresistible sign to mosquitoes of a potential source of blood. Other body scents may play a role as well
• Blood type: Research suggests mosquitoes may prefer certain blood types. Type O is the most attractive, according to these findings.
• Pregnancy: Pregnant women tend to attract more mosquitoes due to increased body temperature and CO2 production since there are at least two people in one body!
• Colors: The color of your clothing can also increase the likelihood of a mosquito encounter, and studies have shown mosquitoes to be attracted to people wearing orange, red, black, and cyan.

In combination, these factors can make some people more attractive to mosquitoes than others, lending credence to the idea that certain individuals are, as we commonly like to say, mosquito magnets. 

Why Runners and Outdoor Workers Are Prime Targets

Active individuals face particular challenges when it comes to mosquito encounters, for a couple of important reasons. Morning and evening workouts align perfectly with when mosquitoes are most active, since these pests don't tolerate extreme heat or direct sunlight well. When you're working out, running, or doing physical labor, your body becomes a beacon for mosquitoes due to heavy breathing and an increase in CO2, and a higher body temperature will make you more detectable to these pests as well. And, as we briefly touched on, it’s important to avoid the colors listed above as they are proven to attract mosquitoes. If you do wear these colors, make sure to run fast!.

Professional Mosquito Control in Kettering: Your Best Defense

We all know that mosquitoes in Ohio are quite common, and we also know that repellents containing DEET or other EPA-approved ingredients can help keep them at bay, but these sprays do nothing to target the source of your mosquito problem. For that, professional help is an important consideration. At Mosquito Squad Plus of Dayton, we’ve worked for many years to help our neighbors contend with the mosquitoes harassing them in their outdoor living spaces, and we have just the solutions for you! With the help of our powerful mosquito barrier treatments and our highly trained technicians, we can guarantee up to an 85-90% reduction in the mosquito populations in your yard for three weeks per treatment application! With our help, we can help ensure that you and your family can savor the outdoor living season fully, all without constant mosquito interruptions.

To learn more about us and how we can help you reclaim your outdoor lifestyle, give our team at Mosquito Squad Plus of Dayton a call at (937) 761-2767 today. Ask us about our new client specials!