Researchers have discovered that certain colors attract mosquitoes

The annoying buzz

Everyone gets this annoying feeling when the blood-sucking mosquitoes buzz around you. It gets worse when you get bitten by them. You need to know what attracts these pesky bugs. Are you aware that you can actually avoid them? There are a few tricks to do so.According to new research, the color you wear also matters a lot when attracting mosquitoes. So, next time you go out, make sure you are wearing the right color to avoid mosquito bites.

Color of clothes

The new study was published in the journal ‘Nature Communications.' Researchers from the University of Washington conducted it. They examined the behavior of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.  These mosquitoes were exposed to several types of scent-related and visual cues.They were put inside tiny test chambers where they were exposed to things like a colored dot or a person's hand. Mosquitoes detect a person by smelling their breath; to be more specific, the carbon dioxide in their breath.

Add Block

They were exposed to certain things

They were put inside tiny test chambers where they were exposed to things like a colored dot or a person's hand. Mosquitoes detect a person by smelling their breath; to be more specific, the carbon dioxide in their breath. They scan for food indicators, which are certain visual and color patterns. The test chambers had no carbon dioxide smell, so the mosquitoes ignored the colored dot. But when the chambers were sprayed with carbon dioxide, they immediately moved towards the several dots.

The colors

They flew particularly to the red, orange, black, or cyan dots. They ignored the green, blue, and purple dots. The researchers found some interesting things and were also faced with many questions.The entomologists came up with some theories. One of them was that when mosquitoes look at our skin, they see the color red. This could explain why they flew to the red dot.

Add Block

Nancy Troyano explains

A board-certified entomologist and Director of Operations Education and Training with Ehrlich Pest Control, Nancy Troyano, Ph.D., explains: “When light interacts with human skin, regardless of skin pigmentation, it reflects a reddish color. Therefore the color red may be one of several cues that mosquitoes use to help them to locate their host.”We may think that mosquitoes associate the color red with our blood, however, it might not be correct. It is easy to assume that entomologist Timothy Best, the technical manager at Terminix, thinks that it is "unlikely."He explains:

Add Block

“There are about 200 different species of mosquito in the United States”

"While mosquitoes can see using their compound eyes, their acuity is poor, and they do not see clear images." He further explains that there are three different sensing mechanisms that mosquitoes rely on to search for blood. They visually detect a host, or detect carbon dioxide or respiratory gases, or use its antenna, which has a heat-sensing receptor. This way, they follow up on their visual hint that exposed body parts are around them. Best says, “It should be noted that there are about 200 different species of mosquito in the United States, so this attraction is likely to be a species-specific trait, and not all encompassing of all species”.

Light vs dark colors

He also says, “Mosquitoes are very susceptible to dying by dehydration, therefore light colors may instinctually represent danger and prompt avoidance. In contrast, darker colors may replicate shadows, which are more likely to absorb and retain heat, allowing mosquitoes to use their sophisticated antenna to locate a host.”So it can be concluded that it does not solely depend on what color you are wearing. But, it will definitely help if you wear lighter colored clothes. This will ensure lesser mosquito bites.