Why do certain people get bit by mosquitoes more than others? When you go out with your friends or in a group for hiking, a picnic, or in someone’s back garden, you will notice that some people get swarmed by mosquitoes, whereas some are completely unharmed. To avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, we need to understand the signals that attract the mosquitoes in the first place. If your home has frequent mosquito infestation, you should contact pest control Leander.
What attracts mosquitoes to bite you?
Mentioned below are the reasons mosquitoes are most attracted.
- Heat
Mosquitoes can identify thermal signals with their temperature-sensing receptors in their antennas. As soon as the mosquito gets close to you, it can use this receptor to detect body heat and identify targets for blood.
Researchers found that the female Aedes mosquitoes can detect and distinguish heat sources that are host-range, ambient, or deleterious. In simple words, mosquitoes can fly toward heat sources that are close to body heat temperature. In general, people with higher body temperatures attract mosquitoes the most. The heat produced by other bodies depends on a variety of factors.
- Carbon Dioxide
Mosquitoes are sensitive to carbon dioxide gas that we breathe out. They can determine the environmental carbon dioxide concentration changes, which alerts them to potential hosts. Mosquitoes can even detect carbon dioxide exhaled air from 50 meters away.
Humans exhale about 2.3 pounds of carbon dioxide daily. The amount of carbon dioxide in normal breathing likely does not attract mosquitoes. However, heavy breathing after vigorous exercise–can draw the mosquitoes toward the person more.
- Body odor
Mosquitoes are also drawn to body odor. Body odor begins when bacteria on the skin break some protein molecules down to release sweat. Mosquitoes can detect such odors within 10-15 meters. Certain body washes, perfumes, deodorants, and lotions can also draw mosquitoes’ attention.
- Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is an important compound present in our blood and sweat. During exercise, workouts, or strenuous activity, lactic acid concentration increases due to anaerobic respiration. Mosquitoes are attracted to those people who have a lot of lactic acid build-up on their outer skin.
- Clothing color
Mosquitoes are also attracted to the color of your clothes. Researchers have found that mosquitoes prefer red, orange, cyan, and black shades.
Mosquitoes have a range of vision of up to 15 meters. Once they are drawn by chemical cues like body odor and CO2, they use their eyes to scan the color associated with the potential host.
