Mosquito Squad of Greenville, SC explores the reasons for the mosquito’s attraction to people

Mosquitoes have roamed the earth in search of a blood meal for over 170 million years. You would think that with this type of longevity and resilience most of the myths regarding mosquitoes feeding preferences would have been de-bunked by now. It is true that many of the facts regarding the mosquito’s attraction to people are stranger than fiction.

Since some folks seem to be a magnet for mosquitoes it is important to find out why mosquitoes target certain people over others. The truth is mosquitoes are drawn to some people over others simply because of sight and smell. Mosquitoes are very visual and their first mode of search is through vision. Mosquitoes are drawn to darker colors such as black, navy blue and reds. Dark colors are more likely to attract the attention of a mosquito because they stand out and are easier to differentiate during movement than lighter colors which can blend into the surroundings. After the mosquito sees you as a promising visual target then her keen sense of smell takes charge. Mosquitoes are mainly attracted to the amount of carbon dioxide we exhale. Our bodies naturally produce carbon dioxide with every breath we take. As we breathe we take in oxygen and in turn exhale carbon dioxide and this draws the mosquito to us like a moth to a flame. People with higher metabolic rates are likely to produce more carbon dioxide. Pregnant women and larger people also exhale a greater amount of carbon dioxide as well. Studies have also indicated that alcohol consumption can increase respiration and thus increase the amount of carbon dioxide you exhale.  Having a beer or a mixed drink on the deck this summer may just make you the mosquito’s unsuspecting main course.

The aromas produced from our respiration are just one of the smells which attract the mosquito. Other compounds that our bodies produce also contribute to a mosquito choosing to bite one person over another. These attractants include lactic acid which our bodies naturally excrete during exercise, acetone which is another chemical released during respiration, and estradiol which is a byproduct of estrogen. Cholesterol on our skin’s surface will also make you more appetizing to the mosquito. This does not mean mosquitoes are more likely to bite a person diagnosed with higher cholesterol levels. When our bodies process cholesterol efficiently certain residuals will remain on our skin and the mosquito finds this residual irresistible. Each of these compounds combined with your body temperature can make you more attractive to a mosquito. Mosquitoes are cold blooded creatures which makes their preference for warm bodies and warm blood a contradiction in terms.

It is important to find out the triggers to mosquito attraction because they can leave more than an itchy bite behind. Mosquitoes are known vectors of many illnesses and diseases that can make you very sick. West Nile Virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and La Crosse Encephalitis are among just a few of the illnesses being bitten by a mosquito can incur. Mosquitoes are also responsible for infecting our pets with heartworms, which can be fatal. The best way to ensure your safety and the safety of your family and pets is to exercise common sense when it comes to mosquitoes. Conducting frequent checks within your yard for standing water and items that could potentially act as a reservoir for rain or pooled water is essential to keeping mosquitoes from breeding on your property. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little amount of water as a soda bottle top. Having your property treated by a licensed mosquito control representative is also important. These safeguards will help to keep mosquitoes out of your yard this season and off of you and your family.

Our safe and effective barrier treatment program eliminates mosquitoes and prevents more from entering your protected property for the entire season. Our mosquito control program is convenient and highly effective at keeping mosquitoes out no matter how attractive your chemistry is to the mosquito. We schedule applications of our barrier treatment at timed intervals throughout the season to keep you and yours happy and healthy all season long!

Contact Mosquito Squad of Greenville today to learn more about our safe and effective mosquito control program. Call us today for a free quote at (864) 362-2013!