Have you ever wondered why you still have mosquitoes, even though you have a bug zapper?  Are mosquitoes attracted to light?

While may bugs have a natural attraction to light, either for help in navigation or as a source of needed heat when the sun goes down, mosquitoes are not really attracted to light like you might think.  Many of us have tried controlling the mosquitoes around our homes with bug lights.  If you have a bug light, but still also have a huge mosquito problem, it’s because mosquitoes use the bug light to navigate closer to your home, where they can pick up on your scent and bite you.  Bug lights also kill insects, which are essential aquatic food sources, and are responsible for helping control biting mosquitoes.  One study showed that after a whole summer, one bug light was responsible for killing over 13,000 insects.  Less than one percent of those insects were biting mosquitoes.

How do mosquitoes use light?

Have you ever turned on your outside light, and noticed that insects begin flying erratically?  That’s because some insects have what is called negative phototaxis.  Phototaxis is basically an insect’s response to light.  Those with positive phototaxis will be drawn to the light.  Mosquitoes use the moon and stars to navigate, so imagine how much differently a UV-bug light appears to a mosquito after dark.  Outdoor lights confuse mosquitoes’ sense of navigation.  Notice how moths fly in circles around bright outdoor lights?  They too, have a negative phototaxis.  Bright light appears differently to moths in each eye.  For this reason, one wing will have a faster response, causing them to fly erratically or in circles.  Cockroaches also have a negative phototaxis, which makes them scurry to a dark space when the lights come on.  They are not running from us – they are running from the lights!

Are some lights better at keeping insects away from your home?

Lights that have very little UV-emission, such as warm-colored LED lamps, will prove less attractive to insects with a positive phototaxis.  Yellow bulbs are often used, because they do not emit a lot of bright, visible light or UV.  LED lighting also emits much less heat than traditional light bulbs, which will also attract fewer heat-seeking insects.

See our video about the effectiveness of bug zappers on mosquitoes:

What is the best way to control mosquitoes around your home?

Professional mosquito control is the best way to keep mosquitoes at bay, day or night.  EPA-registered insecticides will kill mosquitoes on contact, and continue killing them for a couple of weeks between applications.  Professional all-natural mosquito control formulas will repel mosquitoes for up to two weeks at a time.  Even though mosquitoes have a natural aversion to some essential oils, non-professional products will not have a high enough concentration to ward off mosquitoes.  Wearing essential oil products will not repel mosquitoes effectively.  Planting lemongrass or using citronella candles will not offer effective mosquito control for your entire yard.  Barrier mosquito control sprays will offer the best protection.

Also read: Do all mosquitoes bite humans?