Don’t Be a Mosquito’s Next Victim

Although the largest percentage of deaths from mosquitoes are among the elderly as well as children in underdeveloped countries, it is still possible for you to contract mosquito-borne diseases in the United States due to the rapid growing number of world travelers.

Mosquitoes can even affect animals and pests, including dogs, cats and horses, and are responsible for the spread of heartworms and other dangerous diseases. Here’s what you need to know:

Are Mosquitoes Attracted to Certain People?

Contrary to popular though, the mosquito that preys on human blood is always female, and she doesn’t use the blood she gets from you for food — both male and female mosquitoes feast off of nectar similar to many other flying insects. Instead, the female mosquito uses your blood to nourish her eggs (or larvae), and she is picky.

As a matter of fact, researchers have recently determined that one in ten people are more attractive to the female mosquito than others. What researchers have yet to determine is why this occurs, exactly.

What they do know is that genetics plays a significant part in a mosquito’s ‘selection process’, and they have identified certain elements of body chemistry — such as carbon dioxide — on the surface of the skin that is a known attractant of mosquitoes.Larger people, as well as pregnant women, may be more tantalizing to mosquitoes, for example, due to the fact that they produce much more carbon dioxide.

Additionally, when we work up a sweat playing or working outdoors, the panting from our heavy breathing also exerts carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes are also attracted to the lactic acid that sweat contains. To make things worse, you could even be putting yourself at risk by simply moving while in the vicinity of a mosquito as they have a keen sense of movement.

Keeping Mosquitoes under Control

To control mosquitoes, it is imperative that you eliminate any standing water as this is their primary breeding grounds. For the best at-home service, you should always give Mr. Mister a try as they have the most innovative techniques for controlling mosquitoes and keeping them away from your yard.

These include automatic misting systems which treats your yard on a daily basis, dispensing a 100% biodegradable solution around your yard at the times of day in which mosquitoes are most active — and ClearZone, a service which periodically send a professional to your home for regular treatments. Each method has their own set of benefits for making it convenient and effective while allowing you and your family to live much healthier lives without the risk of illnesses.