Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Humans?

When you go away somewhere hot to relax, are you a mosquito magnet? You’re not just unlucky. Mosquitoes don’t just bite humans to be a nuisance, it helps them reproduce.

If you’re unlucky enough to get bitten, it’s the female of the species that’s bitten you. This is because female mosquitoes need proteins from blood to successfully produce and lay their eggs. Female mosquitoes have what is called a proboscis, a thin, sucking mouthpart that is not unlike a sharp needle. This is what helps them suck your blood. After feeding, a female mosquito can lay as many as 250 eggs. They aren’t dependent on blood for food like fleas, they get their food from plant nectar. The reason mosquitoes bite humans is the need to reproduce and survive.

Mosquitos in the UK

You don’t need to go somewhere tropical to get bitten by a mosquito. You can find them in the UK, usually around estuaries or marshes. However, there is a species that are common indoors. Anopheles maculipennis is brown with tiny spots on its wings and it’s all too ready to bite, especially at dusk. If this pest gets in, you’ll often find it in dark, undisturbed corners of your home, shed, or cellar.

Mosquito Bites Spread Diseases

Mosquito bites can be annoying, painful, and downright itchy and it turns out they transmit some very nasty diseases. A mosquito bite can cause potentially life-threatening illnesses like;

Zika virus

West Nile virus

Malaria

Dengue fever

Why do Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others?

If you’re a mosquito magnet who wants to avoid bites, discomfort, and disease, here’s our guide to what attracts mosquitoes to humans.

Clothing

Research has found that colours like green, black, and red make it easier for mosquitoes to spot you. Try wearing muted pastel colours or white.

Blood Type

Some mosquitoes prefer certain blood types. Many people give off secretions that signal what blood type they are which also attracts mosquitoes.

Carbon Dioxide Levels

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide. The more carbon dioxide you give off, the more of a mosquito magnet you are. Heavier people, pregnant women, and people exercising outdoors give off more carbon dioxide so they attract more mosquitoes.

Body Heat and Sweat

Mosquitoes are masters at detecting scent. They can detect chemical compounds in sweat, which attracts them to you. Everyone has their own natural scent too, and you might just be one of the unlucky ones that mosquitoes take a liking to.

You’re Partial to a Beer

When it comes to the reasons mosquitoes bite humans, this is one the scientists can’t explain. A study found that mosquitoes were more attracted to people who had drank a litre of beer over people who drank a litre of water. The reasons why weren’t clear.

How to Prevent and Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes breed near stagnant water, so be sure to clean your guttering and bird baths regularly. Fitting fly screens over open windows can stop them getting in and if you’re dealing with just the odd one, a fly spray works.

Got a More Substantial Problem?

Are mosquitoes starting to invade your home or garden? Then we’d recommend calling in professional pest control. Pest control technicians have the expertise and products that will make your mosquito problem a thing of the past. Want to sit in the garden on summer evenings without a care? Call in the professionals.

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