Surprising Facts: What Actually Attracts Mosquitoes?

Each year, a common question we get is, “what is attracting mosquitoes to me?” The culprit is a lot closer than we think and is a necessity to our survival. Female mosquitoes feed on blood for the nourishment of their eggs. However, mosquitoes don’t just feed on blood. A great discovery is that it is not only blood that nourishes mosquitoes, but also flowers. Another fun fact is that flowers nourish both males and females, but that isn’t the reason you wanted to read this blog. You want to know what attracts mosquitoes to you.

Well, it’s quite simple, and you’re doing it right now as you read this blog: it’s your breathing. Carbon dioxide, which we exhale every second of our lives, attracts mosquitoes. Once the mosquito is close enough, it is then able to smell our blood. When our body temperature rises and we begin to sweat, we are releasing lactic acid, uric acid, and ammonia into the air, which to a mosquito is like a freshly baked meal ready for consuming. Mosquitoes are also attracted to pregnancy, when abdominal temperature rises by 21%.

How Do I Make Myself Unattractive to Mosquitoes?

Wearing light-colored clothes is one way to keep you more relaxed in the warmer months, but it may also act as an excellent camouflage against mosquitoes. According to Jonathan Day, a professor of medical entomology at the University of Florida in Vero Beach, dark and red clothing makes it easier for a mosquito to spot you. During the warmer season, wear lighter or non-red clothing to dampen a mosquito's ability to find you.

Want to Learn How to Treat Mosquito Bites?

Knowing that there is no way of getting around not attracting mosquitoes to us, we posted a previous article about how to treat mosquito bites. We may not be able to cease the attraction that mosquitoes have for us, but we can at least know how to treat it.

These are a few common reasons why a mosquito may be hot on your heels, but Mosquito Squad has tips for your home to be a fortress against mosquitoes. Mosquito Squad’s 7 T’s of mosquito control will help reduce the presence of mosquitoes around your home.

For help from mosquito control professionals, call (877) 332-2239 to get Mosquito Squad! We’ll transform your backyard experience by deterring mosquitos for up to three weeks at a time.