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What Attracts Mosquitoes?
Mosquitos are attracted to water because their eggs need water to hatch. Ponds, wetlands, birdbaths, puddles – it doesn’t matter the size of the pool, if the water is still or stagnant mosquitoes will be all over it.
As for the similar question of what attracts mosquitoes to one person more than another, it’s still a bit of a mystery why certain people are “mosquito magnets.” Research suggests that mosquitoes prefer certain blood types and scents on your breath.
Why do I have mosquitoes?
It can be hard to know where to find stagnant water on your property. Unfortunately, mosquitoes will find it easily. Some areas to check include birdbaths, gardens, ponds, playsets, gutters, pools, and spas. Mosquitoes are especially abundant in the spring and summer months.
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Why Are Some People Mosquito Magnets and Others Aren’t?
It’s not a myth. Mosquitoes do prefer certain people and will bite them more often. Although it’s not completely understood why, three main things that seem to attract mosquitoes to certain individuals are:
- Breath. Female mosquitoes can sense odor, and they’re highly attuned to carbon dioxide, which you exhale. A high concentration of carbon dioxide can be detected by mosquitoes more than 150 feet away
- Blood. Researchers have shown that mosquitoes prefer Type O blood to Type A. Additionally, scientists believe there are other signals in our genetics that make some people more prone to mosquito bites
- Scent. Research has shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to certain scents. Uric acid, lactic acid, and ammonia from your skin attract mosquitoes. So if you are sweating or have a higher body temperature, you are more attractive to mosquitoes. Floral fragrances and perfumes may also be attractive to mosquitoes
Why are mosquitoes attracted to my Long Island home?
If your yard has become a haven for mosquitoes and someone in your family is a known “mosquito magnet”, spring and summertime can be a nightmare.
To learn what makes your home attractive to mosquitoes — and to prevent them — we recommend working with a local mosquito exterminator.
