Why
Mosquitos Are Attracted to Humans
Why mosquitoes are
attracted to you
Scientists still don’t fully understand the subtle chemistry of what attracts
mosquitoes to humans. However, entomologists are certain that the following are mosquito
attractants:
- Carbon dioxide and other chemicals in the
breath that you exhale
- Chemicals your body emits
- Body heat
- Visual cues such as color, size and
contrast
- Movement
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Mosquitoes
are very effective at reproducing
Attracting,
trapping and killing just one female mosquito at the start of mosquito season can prevent
the birth of up to 25,000 more mosquitoes that season alone!
The importance of water
All mosquitoes need water to
complete their lifecycles. Some mosquito species lay their eggs directly on the surface of
water. Others lay drought-resistant eggs into containers or depressions in the ground
– then, when the area is flooded by rainfall or another water source, the eggs are
able to hatch.
Mosquito activity in cold
weather
Many mosquitoes are able to
hibernate in cold winter months. Their development ceases, and they remain still and
inactive. Once temperatures rise in the spring and summer, the hibernating mosquitoes
and mosquito eggs become active again.
What mosquitoes eat
Mosquitoes rely on sugar as their
main source of energy. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, fruit juices,
and liquids that ooze from plants.
Blood for reproduction
Females mosquitoes lay multiple
batches of eggs and require a blood meal for every batch they lay. Male mosquitoes do not
lay eggs – as a result, male mosquitoes don’t require blood meals, and
therefore, do not bite.
Most mosquitoes die before they are
able to bite and take a blood meal. In general, mosquitoes that
do live to reproduce are only able to take one blood meal before they, too, are killed or
die naturally.
Why mosquito bites hurt
Mosquito bites leave welts and itch
because when females bite they salivate into the wound. Proteins in the saliva
facilitate the taking of the blood meal by preventing the blood platelets from coagulating
and by dilating blood vessels. The welts that appear after the mosquito leaves are not a
reaction to the wound but an allergic reaction to the saliva injected to prevent clotting.
Controlling Mosquitoes
In addition to properly installing and using a
SkeeterVac® mosquito exterminator, you can reduce mosquito breeding around your home
significantly by reducing the amount of water that is stagnating on your property.
Dispose
of cans, plastic containers, pots, or similar water-holding containers that have
accumulated on your property.
Drill holes in the bottom of containers that
you must leave out of doors – trash cans, recycling bins, etc.
Clean clogged roof gutters on an annual
basis.
Turn over plastic wading
pools when not in use.
Turn over wheelbarrows,
empty planters, or children’s toys.
Don’t
allow water to stagnate in birdbaths.
Aerate ornamental pools or
stock them with fish.
Clean and chlorinate
swimming pools that are not being used. Don’t forget that mosquitoes breed in the
water that collects on swimming pool covers.
Use landscaping features or
drainage tools to eliminate standing water that collects in low spots on your property.
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