Mosquito Attraction

Avoiding Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are out, and for some they're more annoying than ever. Science shows that some people are genetically more attractive to the tiny blood suckers.

The two most important reasons mosquitoes are attracted to you are sight and smell... and in some cases there's nothing you can do about it.

"There's a whole variety of chemicals that we secrete through our skin probably hundreds of chemicals and some of those are repellent to mosquitoes some are attractive and so the combination of those depends on your genetics," said Phil Whitaker, an associate professor of biological sciences at UW-Marathon County.

Do you sweat a lot? If so, mosquitoes want your blood. Whitkaer says they can detect carbon dioxide and the more active you are the more carbon dioxide you're releasing.

"Exercise can increase your attractiveness, they're attracted to heat so anything that will raise your temperature," he said.

They're also attracted to alcohol. Whitaker says hanging out in a cool, shady, sheltered area drinking a beer will probably get you bit.

Mosquitoes are attracted to movement and dark clothing, so it's best to wear light, loose-fitting clothes.

Only female mosquitoes feast on blood, but they may also feed on nectar like males, so sweet floral scents may allure them.

Though you may not be able to help how attractive you are to the insects, you can try to use repellents with Deet. Some, have other remedies.

"There's been some talk of things like vitamin B12 and garlic and sulfur as repellents so you can eat those and then those chemicals are exuded through your skin," Whitaker said.

But not so fast, Whitaker says, there's not a lot of scientific support for that.

Mosquitoes like to hang out in damp areas, and breed anywhere there's standing water. To help keep them out of your hard, eliminate standing water in rain barrels, buckets, flower trays, and gutters.