If you’re spending time outside this summer, and you’re not protected, you know you’re going to wake up with a thousand itchy spots that will drive you crazy. Through this list, we’re going to discover the secrets of mosquitoes; maybe, if we’re lucky, they’ll leave us alone this year!
They Want To Party
Apparently, it’s not only humans who enjoy drinking beer; mosquitoes also seem to have a taste for it. According to Japanese researchers, even one beer can cause mosquitoes to flock to you. Specialists have also stated that it’s the CO2 released from the beer when it’s opened, as the bugs use this gas to approach mammals.
Sweat
Mosquitoes also love when you work out and start sweating. The bacteria and chemicals that live in our sweat are like perfume to them. The lactic acid in our sweat is their favorite. Some tips to avoid getting bitten include wearing light-colored clothing to minimize sweating and avoiding dark colors.
Smoke
If you’re camping and you’ve noticed that the campfire is the only spot where you don’t get bitten, it’s because smoke smothers a mosquito’s senses, making it too hard for them to find you. They also don’t like lavender or lemon balm, so adding some of that to the fire offers extra insurance.
Water
Despite what you might think, these guys don’t need much water to breed. In fact, they can lay eggs in a bottle cap’s worth of water. You need to empty toys, buckets, and other items that hold water and ensure you clean everything thoroughly to prevent a full infestation.
Leggings
Believe it or not, leggings made of spandex are incredibly susceptible to these creatures. The leggings won’t stop them from getting to you; they’ll bite right through them with no apologies. A better solution is wearing loose clothing, as it makes it difficult for mosquitoes to find your skin, and they can’t bite you as effectively.
Eating
Female mosquitoes will continue to eat until their stomachs are completely full. Then they rest for about three days so they can lay their eggs. When she’s done, she’ll go out and eat again to repeat the process. If a female mosquito is interrupted before she’s full, she’ll move from person to person until she’s satisfied.
Type O
If you have type O blood, you’re more susceptible to getting bitten. That’s because mosquitoes prefer O blood the best. Mosquitoes are attracted to our blood type and the bacteria in our sweat in particular. This theory has been proposed by the American Mosquito Control Association and supported by studies conducted by the Institute of Pest Control Technology.
Repellent
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are only four chemicals that work well against mosquitoes: DEET, IR3535, Picaridin, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. They won’t know that you’re trying to kill them, but they’ll know they don’t like what’s happening later. NPR has suggested that lemon eucalyptus oil lasts almost as long as DEET and is nearly as effective.
Gardening
Mosquitoes don’t like a variety of flowers and herbs. If you have a garden and plant garlic, basil, lemon balm, or lavender, they’ll stay away. Their sense of smell is incredibly delicate, and these scents overwhelm them to the point that they can’t detect you. So instead of biting you, they’ll move on to someone else.
Perfume
While our blood and sweat smell like perfume, mosquitoes don’t like genuine perfume. Studies have suggested that the Bombshell perfume by Victoria’s Secret can repel these bugs because they dislike it. Unfortunately for us, there are so many ingredients in cosmetics that we can’t pinpoint which one is the agent that repels the bugs.
No More Secrets
Now that we know the coveted secrets of mosquitoes, including what they like and what they don’t, we can use this knowledge to our advantage and try to avoid getting bitten—and, consequently, itchy—as much. Have fun this summer and be sure to repel these bugs as best as you can!
