Have you noticed that mosquitoes seem to focus in on your child? It’s worrisome to watch your son or daughter continually scratch and pick at mosquito bites, but we all know it’s practically impossible to get them to stop.
You worry about infection and scarring. Why are mosquitoes biting the kids and not you when you are in the exact same place? There are actually a few scientific reasons.
- Mosquitoes are attracted to warmer bodies and the smell of lactic acid. So whether it’s at the playground, the soccer game, or just in the backyard your kids are probably running around and getting hot. Now their surface body temperature is warmer than yours and they are emitting lactic acid via sweat. At the end of a busy play day, the mosquitoes are drawn to them.
- Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors. How often do you dress your kids in red or navy blue during the summer? Who didn’t hit the sale racks last year after July 4th? Aisles and aisles of red and blue t-shirts for $5. Your kids can wear them all summer and you don’t mind throwing them out at the end of the year when they are torn and stained, because they were so cheap. Well, the mosquitoes thank you because they can SEE your kids and they know it’s the food they desire. Another point for the mosquito.
- What Blood type is your child? If it’s O then that may have something to do with the excessive bites. A study published in the Journal of Entomology stated that mosquitoes landed on more people with type O blood then they landed on those with A, B, or AB blood types. Maybe O tastes better? Like chocolate for mosquitoes? Who knows but they do seem to like it better. (It’s gotta be chocolate!)
- Mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of CO2. Now maybe an adult exhales a bit more CO2 than a child, but if a child is running, sweating, breathing heavy there is a combination of qualities here. All together they scream “Come to get me you little hungry pests!”
And maybe, just maybe, mosquitoes like your kid because he has smelly feet. Don’t worry we aren’t judging. Few people with kids haven’t at least once made their kids take their tennis shoes and put them in the garage because they smelled sooooooo bad! Apparently, mosquitoes are fond of that smell. Ummmm… yuck! It’s the bacteria scientists say. Feet carry lots of bacteria, especially the smelly ones. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, mosquitoes love Limburger cheese. Do you know what Limburger smells like? You guessed it… feet.
Let Kids Be Kids with Mosquito Control at Home
Childhood is short. The part of childhood where you run and play and get dirty and stink and no one cares is even shorter. The time comes soon enough where kids get older and begin to be judged by their peers. Then not long after that, they are judged by adults. So why not let them enjoy being dirty, let their feet stink if they are having fun?
And CERTAINLY, don’t let mosquitoes govern the decisions you make about your children.
Simply keep them protected. Use repellent when you are out and about. Make sure it contains DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus. And yet even keeping kids covered in repellent is hard work.
Mosquito barrier protection at home is essential for your family’s health
That’s why when you are at home and the kids are spending every last chance they can get out in the yard before winter comes the very best thing you can do is treat the yard for mosquitoes. Barrier protection mosquito control programs will eliminate 85-90% of the mosquitoes at your home and you won’t have to worry about whether your child is more prone to get bitten nor will you have to stop what you are doing every hour to reapply repellent. The barrier protection companies are designed to provide protection for an entire season — no matter how long or short.
Dave Macchia, Mosquito Control Enthusiast