Can Insects Bite Through My Clothes?

Posted by Mosquito Squad Plus

July 15, 2026

Clothing doesn’t offer the same level of protection from every pest. Do these insects bite through our clothes?

Have you ever put on a long-sleeved shirt and pants before going outside, expecting to be protected from insect bites? If so, you might also have learned that clothing isn’t always an ample defense against bugs.

Mosquitoes, ticks, and no-see-ums all have different feeding habits. If you’re spending time outdoors in the El Paso area, here’s what you should know.

Can Mosquitoes Bite Through Clothes?

Unfortunately, yes. Sometimes, mosquitoes can bite through our clothes. Thin or tightly stretched materials might not provide much of a barrier from mosquitoes, whose mouthparts are designed to pierce the skin.

Lightweight leggings, thin t-shirts, and close-fitting athletic gear might all leave you vulnerable to mosquito bites. If you’re spending time outdoors, whether walking the dog, having a morning run, or hiking, it’s smart to use a personal mosquito repellent.

Alternatively, wearing loose and thicker clothing or garments that are tightly woven will create a tougher barrier for mosquitoes. But remember that exposed ankles, wrists, and necks might still require mosquito repellent.

If mosquitoes seem to find you no matter what clothing you’re in, it could be that a high mosquito population around your home is really the problem. Mosquito Squad Plus offers El Paso mosquito control solutions to reduce mosquito populations by up to 95% throughout your property for up to three weeks between treatments.

Can Ticks Bite Through Clothing?

Not really – ticks generally are not able to bite us through our clothing. Instead, their superpower is crawling beneath our clothing, where they can obscure themselves until they’ve taken a blood meal.

Ticks might clime onto your shoes, socks, or pants, and continue moving until they’re able to find exposed skin – or a dark, warm area to attach. Commonly, they will attach behind the knees, near the hairline, around the waist, as well as other hidden areas.

Wearing long pants tucked into socks and close-toed shoes can help create a stronger barrier, but it’s still important to perform a tick check after spending time outdoors.

El Paso tick control by Mosquito Squad Plus will aid in reducing your chances of a tick bite at home.

Can No-See-Ums Bite Through Clothing?

Small though they are, no-see-ums are also persistent biters. And yes, they can bite through clothing.

These tiny insects, like mosquitoes, will take advantage of loose weaves, thin materials, and gaps in clothing to bite us. Worse yet, due to their small size, we often have no idea we’ve been bitten until the welts appear and intense itching sets in.

Covering exposed skin can help us avoid no-see-um bites, but clothing alone might not prevent no-see-um bites completely. Backyard no-see-um control by Mosquito Squad Plus of El Paso is a great choice for properties with high pest activity.

Where Do We Offer Pest Control Services?

Mosquito Squad Plus is much more than just an El Paso mosquito control company. We proudly serve the following areas and beyond with highly effective pest control solutions: