You may be wondering, "What attracts mosquitoes?". The short answer is: your blood. Over the years, there have been countless home remedies created to keep these little bloodsuckers at bay, but none seem to do the trick. Our ancestors had an effective repellent, and any camper can tell you that it works wonders. Campfire smoke. Yep, that’s their old-world hack, but we’re going to assume that you don’t want to have to light a campfire every time you want to spend time outside, so here are some more accessible mosquito control tips you can utilize in your everyday life.
Do Mosquitoes Have Favorites?
While no one is resistant to mosquito bites, everyone reacts differently to the mosquito's saliva. And, yes. Mosquitoes do indeed have favorites. Their palates are quite refined, actually. So no matter the amount of DEET you apply, if they want to bite you, they will follow you around until they do.
- Type O blood is the mosquito's absolute favorite, with Type A coming in second.
- Pregnant women are sadly a common target, as if they don't have enough to deal with.
- Elevated temperatures seem to draw mosquitoes to you. It can be from a fever or because you have been exercising. For some people it's genetics and they just tend to run a bit warmer.
- Black, dark blue, or red clothing will attract mosquitoes to you.
- One study even showed that mosquitoes may be attracted to people who have been drinking beer.
Are Mosquitoes A Threat To Phoenix Residents?
Mosquitoes are considered one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet. This is because they are known to spread deadly diseases to humans. Many of these diseases we think of as foreign. This is not true. If a person has malaria and arrives in Phoenix, there is a potential that they could be bitten by a mosquito and subsequently, the disease could be spread to others in the area. Mosquito-borne diseases can also be transferred from animal to human via a mosquito bite, specifically West Nile. Fear is not the objective here, but prudence certainly is. Here is a list of some of the diseases spread by mosquitoes:
- Zika Virus
- West Nile Virus
- Malaria
- Lyme Disease
- Dengue Fever
West Nile virus continues to be the most reported and most deadly mosquito-borne disease in the United States.
Tips To Avoid Mosquito Bites
Aside from living in a sealed room or a freezing climate that is inhospitable to mosquitoes, you will never be able to completely avoid mosquitoes. They thrive wherever people and animals live, work, or play. They make their way into homes, cars, and even airplanes. Basically, they are everywhere.
There are ways to decrease the chances of a bite, but of course, they are not absolute.
- Remove stagnant water from your property. Mosquitoes reproduce using standing water. Rainwater can collect in flower pots, rain gutters, old tires, buckets, puddles, etc.
- Do not leave doors or windows open and make sure windows your windows have screens with no holes or tears. You could also consider sleeping under mosquito netting.
- Use a repellant. DEET is available in many strengths and works well. Several essential oil-based products that work well are also available.
- Wear light-colored clothing.
- Stay inside during dawn and dusk which is when mosquitoes are most active.
Of course, there is always the campfire method… it worked for the Pioneers.
Combating Mosquitoes On Your Phoenix Property
The easiest and most effective way to curb the mosquito population on your property would be with help from a pest control professional. Overson Pest Control is a leader in Phoenix pest control and is proud to say that they won the Angie's List Super Service award in 2019 for outstanding customer service. We offer a free initial consultation for mosquito problems and a 100% money-back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied with their service. Reach out to us today to learn more about our mosquito control services.