What Attracts Mosquitoes To Feed
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Your breath is a dead giveaway. Female mosquitoes have an acute sense of smell. Female mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, because they instinctively know that he warm-blooded host exhales this byproduct. A female mosquito can sense carbon dioxide from as far away as 50 to 75 feet. She will fly in a zigzag pattern, through the plume of carbon dioxide that you give off until she pinpoints her target for a blood meal. All warm-blooded creatures give off carbon dioxide when they breathe and all warm-blooded creatures are targeted by mosquitoes in the same way. The volume of carbon dioxide you give off is also be a factor in the targeting mechanism for the female mosquito. |
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Sweat smells good to mosquitoes. Actually, it's the bacteria from the sweat you give off that attracts the mosquito to you. Have you ever noticed how mosquitoes tend to swarm around her ankles and feet? The answer is your feet stink. There is a distinct bacteria, that gives off a distinct odor, they can draw mosquitoes directly to an open area for biting. If you tend to perspire heavily when outdoors, mosquitoes can find you more easily and will tend to feed on you because of your sweat. If you consume alcoholic beverage, as your body metabolizes the alcohol, you tend to sweat, thus attracting mosquitoes. The perfect storm, is a bunch of guys, drinking beer in their flip-flops on the back patio. |
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Mosquitoes love dark colors. Mosquitoes not only feels more protected in a dark colored environment because of the camouflage impact it has, but sees dark colors better based on their visual acuity. A female mosquito is attracted to black, dark blues, dark greens and browns without exception. You'll find if you wear light colors: white, tans, khaki you'll be target less by hungry bloodsucking mosquitoes. |
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Researchers shown the mosquitoes are visual hunters. Not only are they able to delineate between light and dark colored clothing, but they easily pick up the heat signals that you give off. It's kind of like that predator movie, where you see this almost thermal image of the alien out there somewhere. Instinctively, the female mosquito is directed to a warm-blooded host by the thermal image you give off. She knows there is the potential for a blood meal based on the body heat you give off. If your skin temperature is hotter than the person standing just next to you, you will be the target of the next attack. |
