Mosquitoes target us using smell, sight, and taste.  We know that they prefer dark colors.  But do they prefer singular colors, like red?

One peer-reviewed study suggests that the Aedes aegypti mosquito fancies red and orange.  And ORANGE you glad such studies exist?  You should be, because the more we know about mosquito behavior, the better we can determine our own behaviors that might decrease our chances of becoming a mosquito bite target.

Can the Yellow fever mosquito see red? So, if we avoid wearing red, we’re safe…right?

How does this affect us?

When you are in proximity of a female mosquito, her sense of smell homes in on your exhaled breath.  Let’s say that you are standing alongside two other people.  You are all breathing, so that makes you all a target.  However, you are wearing red, and the other two people are wearing green and white, respectively.  That makes you the preferred target of the blood-thirsty mosquito.  Let’s face it, we have all been at an outdoor party before, where we seem to be the only one swatting away what feels like the entire local mosquito population.  If you think back, you might remember that you were wearing red, orange, or black clothing.  If you want to try to repel their unwanted attention, try wearing purple, white, or green.  While we are addressing clothing, try wearing one of those unappealing colors to cover as much skin as possible.

So, if we don’t wear red, the Yellow fever mosquito will leave us alone…right?

Mosquitoes are historically perplexing creatures.  If they weren’t, they would not pose such a threat to humans and animals.  Mosquitoes, small as they are, are resilient.  They are known to  form a resistance to chemical pesticides.  They can survive cold winters.  They revel in climate change, with expanding and growing populations almost worldwide.  And since it is known that mosquitoes are drawn to the color red, it would be simple to surmise that by avoiding red clothing, we could in turn avoid mosquito bites.  Unfortunately, this is untrue.  The way that mosquitoes see is not the same as us.  Mosquitoes can identify red undertones in skin color – ANY skin color – so nixing the red from your wardrobe will not be wholly effective.

Full-scale mosquito control begins with clothing, but there’s more to it.

We can wear the proper color clothing and long sleeves and pants to protect ourselves from potentially-harmful mosquito bites, but we must do more.  The next thing we can do is wear personal mosquito repellent.  This is especially important when out in nature, hiking or camping.  At home, you can choose to launch a full-scale mosquito protection effort with professional Peabody mosquito control.  Choose a reputable mosquito control company, who will make every effort to not only treat your yard for mosquitoes, but will also identify potential hot spots and educate you about making your outdoor spaces less friendly mosquito breeding habits.

Dave Macchia, Central Mass Mosquito Control Expert