Unexpected Things That Attract Mosquitoes To You

Have you ever noticed that mosquitoes play favorites? Think about it. You're outdoors at a party, and certain people are being bombarded while others roam about unbothered. The truth is that specific things attract these pests, some of which are pretty strange.

Body Heat

Your mass and metabolism play a part in how much heat you generate. Some people naturally radiate more body heat. If you tend to run hot, mosquitoes notice you more because they are attracted to higher body temperatures. They are the animal kingdom's version of a heat-seeking missile.

Sweat And Body Odor

A chemical compound in human perspiration called 4-methyl phenol activates a female mosquito's receptors when she's hungry. Bacteria combined with sweat creates the body odor they find irresistible.

Foot Odor

Foot odor is an attractant because they are strongly attracted to the bacteria on stinky feet, and a study showed malaria-ridden mosquitoes are more than three times more likely to be attracted.  Scientists are using this to an advantage, however, as traps containing a synthetic foot odor have been developed.

Dancing And Movement

Mosquitoes track movement, and the more you move around, the more they zero in on you. Vigorous dancing produces lactic acid, and those with more lactic acid on their skin are prime targets. However, it is not the acid itself that attracts them. The lactic acid increases the pest's attraction to other substances we emit, like carbon dioxide and ammonia.

Dark Colors

Wearing dark colors provides mosquitoes with a better target to track, and researchers have found that aqua, red, orange, and black are their favorite colors. They are attracted to black because they seek out dark places that prevent dehydration.  When it comes to color, there are no specifics that repel them, it is a matter of which color, they like more. Lighter-colored clothing gives you a better chance of avoiding an attack.

Alcohol Consumption

Mosquitoes are much more attracted to people who've been consuming alcohol, especially beer. So, if you're going to chug-a-lug, you'd better prepare yourself for the bugs. A French study showed that drinking a pint of beer increased the likelihood of being bitten by 15% and the attractiveness to you by mosquitoes by 47%. One myth suggests that rubbing alcohol can repel the pest, but there is no scientific proof.

Perfume

Male mosquitoes' sole food source is nectar, and while females feed on blood during their egg-laying cycle, they too feed on nectar when not egg-laying. They track down the sources of nectar with their incredible sense of smell. The flowery perfumes, soaps, and lotions we use can have the same effect on them.

Blood Type

These pests are twice as likely to target you if you have Type O blood rather than type A. Type B falls somewhere in between the others. Different blood types contain different proteins called antigens, and this nuisance pest can smell them. Research has also shown that 85% of us secrete a chemical through our skin that lets the mosquito know what blood type we are. That's good news for the other 15% of us because the insect is more attracted to secreters regardless of blood type.

Panting

If you're panting, you're not doing yourself any favors when it comes to mosquitoes. They track you by the carbon dioxide you expel. The more of it there is, the likelier they'll find you. We aren't suggesting refraining from exercise and other activities that can cause panting; we are suggesting taking the necessary precautions to avoid them from finding you.

Pregnancy

We're happy to hear the good news, but we've got some bad news, too. Pregnant women attract more mosquitoes because they exhale more carbon dioxide and typically have higher body temperatures.

Diet

The unhealthier your diet is, the more probable it is that mosquitoes can make you a part of their diet. High sodium foods like potato chips, bacon, and roasted peanuts cause increased production of the dreaded lactic acid. High Cholesterol and sweet treats are also menu favorites.

They are attracted to lots of weird things, but there are still things you can do to make yourself less susceptible. And when you need more help, you've got us, Defender Pest Control. We can help make your home and landscape less prone to pest problems in general. Nobody knows how to do that better, so contact us today and add us to your guest list.