Keeping Blood-Suckers Away: What Attracts Mosquitoes?

Summer is here, and so are days spent by the pool, afternoon barbeques, and s’mores around the fire. But with all this fun, you could find yourself itchy and sore by the end of the night, all because of one little pest—the mosquito.

Notorious for their blood-sucking appetite and the itchy bump they leave behind, no one wants this uninvited guest at their summer activities. But how do you keep mosquitoes away? What attracts mosquitoes to you or your yard in the first place? Today, we’ll help you understand what mosquitoes are attracted to, so you can avoid them all summer long.

5 Things That Attract Mosquitoes

In order to fight an enemy, you first have to know your enemy. Luckily, we’ve dealt with enough mosquito infestations to know exactly what attracts them to your yard and home. Here are the five most common culprits that can turn a nice summer afternoon into an itch-inducing evening.

1. Still Water in Your Yard

Mosquitoes have a unique life cycle that requires water in the early stages of their development. Until they’re fully mature, mosquitoes grow in the water, and adults lay their eggs in the water. They require still, non-moving water in order to thrive, so many adult mosquitoes seek out water to mate and reproduce.

So if you have an untreated pool, a bucket full of rain water, or even just a puddle, you may notice an increase in mosquitoes in your backyard. The best way to get rid of them is to remove any still water in your yard and stay on top of pool treatments. If you have a pool, you may even want to invest in a mosquito screen to block them out entirely.

2. Perfume & Cologne

On a hot summer afternoon, we know you’ll want to make sure you’re smelling good all day long. However, if you’re planning to be outside (particularly during sunset), you may want to avoid perfume, cologne, and other body sprays. These nice-smelling products often contain chemicals that attract all sorts of bugs to you, especially mosquitoes. While it may not smell as good, it’s best to replace the body sprays with an effective, EPA-approved insect repellent.

3. Carbon Dioxide

Have you ever noticed that you get more mosquito bites when you’re exercising outside? This is a common experience for many runners and hikers, and if you relate to this annoying phenomenon, you’re not crazy. Mosquitoes are actually attracted to the carbon dioxide we breathe out. So the more heavy breathing you do, the more likely mosquitoes are going to come your way. If you enjoy exercising outside, you can continue doing so! Just make sure you take the proper precautions, such as insect repellents and longer pants and sleeves if you can.

4. Sweet Treats

Just like many other pests, mosquitoes are attracted to sugary treats, especially liquids. If you’re outside drinking soda or have open containers of sugar in your home, you could be unknowingly attracting mosquitoes into your yard and home. Using air-tight containers for food and putting drinks into closed bottles can help keep mosquitoes at bay.

5. Certain Colors

Some research shows that mosquitoes may be attracted to certain colors, especially shades of red, pink, brown, and orange. It is believed that this is because mosquitoes are naturally drawn to skin colors, but if you happen to also be wearing these colors, you could be the victim of a lot more bug bites than your friends.

Why Are Mosquitoes More Attracted to Me?

Have you ever felt like you get a lot more mosquito bites than your friends or family, even if you’re doing the same activity as them? You’re not the only one. There is actually some research that says that mosquitoes may be attracted to some people more than others, and there are several factors that play into this:

• Your body temperature
• Your sweat
• Your genetics
• How much alcohol you drink (particularly beer)
• And even your blood type! (Mosquitoes prefer O blood types)

While being more attractive to these annoying pests can be frustrating, you can still find relief through some basic pest prevention. To be even safer, you may want to invest in regular recurring pest control to keep these pests far from you and reduce their presence in your yard!

Why Do I Need Mosquito Control?

Mosquito bites may seem like a minor annoyance, but they can lead to serious health issues for both humans and pets. Mosquitoes can transmit several concerning diseases, including West Nile Virus, La Crosse Encephalitis, and Zika—several of which are found in North Carolina. Pets are also at risk, with heartworm and Eastern equine encephalitis posing serious threats.

To protect your family and animals, remove standing water, use EPA-approved insect repellent, and consider professional mosquito control services for long-term prevention and protection.

Keep Itchy Bites Away with Clint Miller’s Mosquito Control

Whether you live right along a lake or just have one too many buzzing pests in your backyard, Clint Miller Exterminating is here to protect you from an itchy summer. Our mosquito pest control services are designed to eliminate their presence from your home, reduce their number in your yard, and provide you with strategies to prevent them long-term. We even offer recurring pest control plans that build a pest-free barrier around your home and yard. You deserve a peaceful summer without the itch—Clint Miller makes that happen.