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Are mosquitoes attracted to light?
You may have heard that turning off the lights in your bedroom can help keep mosquitoes away. Leaving the light on supposedly fills your room with these annoying insects. But is this really true? Are mosquitoes attracted to light, or is it just a myth? We’re here to provide you with the answer!
Are mosquitoes truly drawn to light?
To put it simply: No, mosquitoes are not attracted to light!
Mosquitoes are nearly blind and struggle to navigate in bright light, which is why they are less active during the day compared to the evening.
These pesky insects tend to emerge only as it gets dark. So, you can safely leave your nightlight on while reading a book in bed.
What draws mosquitoes in?
If light isn’t the reason, what then attracts mosquitoes to your room? Here are the key factors that draw them in:
Your metabolism
Some individuals are more attractive to mosquitoes than others, and this is linked to their metabolism. You might be wondering how this works—there’s a logical explanation.
While you sleep, your body burns energy, leading to the exhalation of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a major attractant for mosquitoes. Therefore, the faster your metabolism, the more carbon dioxide you produce, making you more appealing to these insects. Additionally, it seems that larger and heavier individuals, who burn more energy, exhale more carbon dioxide and consequently attract more mosquitoes.
Body odour
Thanks to their highly developed sense of smell, mosquitoes can detect odors from up to 70 meters away, allowing them to sense you from a distance. Our bodies produce around 300 chemical compounds and amino acids.
Factors such as diet, medication use, and even our genetics influence our body odor. Mosquitoes can detect all these scents and may prefer one over another. Some fragrances can even repel mosquitoes; unfortunately, you can’t control this aspect. If mosquitoes are attracted to your scent, you’re likely to get bitten more quickly.
This attraction is linked to their egg production. Female mosquitoes require blood rich in amino acids to maximize their egg-laying potential, which means they can sense where the best blood sources are.
Body heat
Along with carbon dioxide and body odor, mosquitoes are also drawn to body heat.
The warmer your body is while you sleep, the greater the likelihood that mosquitoes will target you. When you go to sleep, your body temperature decreases, which is why mosquitoes tend to bite more during warmer periods when your body is hotter than usual.
Prevent mosquito bites
Fortunately, there are several effective ways to keep those pesky mosquitoes away. The most obvious solutions include installing a screen on your windows or using a bed canopy over your bed. The fine mesh of a bed canopy prevents mosquitoes from reaching you.
Ensure that the bed canopy fits well over your bed; it would be unfortunate if it’s too short and allows mosquitoes to fly underneath and bite you. Since mosquitoes are attracted to body odor, using a DEET-based repellent is a smart choice. This remedy has an unpleasant scent that helps keep mosquitoes at bay.
Additionally, taking a lukewarm shower before bedtime can help regulate your body temperature, making you less appealing to mosquitoes due to reduced body heat.
Im totally in love! Everybody that comes into my room, also falls in love. I’m ordering a second one for my husband#s Bedroom, he’s also in love and wishes one for Xmas. He’s going to get it!!Emi
Mosquito nets from Nusarah
Are you looking to avoid mosquito bites and in need of a bed canopy? You’ve come to the right place at Nusarah! We offer a wide variety of bed canopies in the largest online collection. All our bed canopies are handmade and sustainably produced, which is very important to us.
We have everything from round bed canopies and square mosquito nets to bed canopies for both single and double beds. So you can enjoy a night’s sleep without buzzing. Feel free to take a look at our web-shop and find the bed canopy that suits your interior!
