For years people have known about animal attraction. Perfume and cologne are the primary "weapons of choice" many use to attract the opposite sex. But we don't need to do anything to attract insects. We give off hundreds, maybe thousands, of natural scents that bugs, particularly mosquitoes, just love. "So far, we have found more than 340 different chemical scents produced by human skin, and some of these attract mosquitoes," says ARS chemist Ulrich R. Bernier.

What Do Mosquitoes Like?

The reasons mosquitoes are attracted to humans are very complex. We know for certain that the carbon dioxide you exhale is a very important attractant for all biting insects. We know there are other chemicals in your breath as well as on the surface of the skin, such as the lactic acid produced by muscle movement, that can also attract biting arthropods. Fact: Mosquitoes are Found all over the world, except in Antarctica. The color and texture of skin and clothing may also be important. Certain soaps, perfumes, lotions, hair treatment and other personal care products also have chemicals in them that are attractive to mosquitoes and other insects. They are attracted to humans mainly by carbon dioxide and lactic acid on our skin. Overweight people are more likely to attract mosquitoes than thinner adults due their increased carbon monoxide emission per body surface area. Strangely interesting, mosquitoes love Limburger cheese, according to entomologist Daniel L. Kline. The main ingredient in the cheese is a bacterium that can be found on the human foot. Incidentally, Limburger cheese was first made in The Netherlands by monks. They trampled the cheese with their feet to get the finished product.

What is so Dangerous about Mosquitoes anyway?

Mosquitoes are the most frequent blood-suckers of humans on the planet. They are know to be the vector of many different diseases, some potentially fatal. If, 5 to 15 days after a mosquito bite, you experience severe headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting, disorientation, chills and/or muscle aches and pain, see your doctor immediately.

Mosquitoes can transmit:

Eastern Equine Encephalitis	Dengue
Japanese Encephalitis	Yellow Fever
La Crosse Encephalitis	Malaria
St. Louis Encephalitis	Rift Valley Fever
Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis	Chikungunya Fever
Western Equine Encephalitis	Ross River Fever
West Nile Virus Encephalitis	Bancroftian Filariasis

Interesting fact: the Anopheles (Malaria transmitting) mosquito’s is easily identified by resting position on the skin. It the only mosquito that sits with it’s body is raised up high as if it’s standing on its head.

West Nile Virus Hype

The media would have you believe that WNV is a death sentence for everyone. Truth is, only a few people, mainly the very young and very old die from the encephalitis. Let me put it in perspective; last year only 264 people died from West Nile Virus Encephalitis, in that same time period – 34,000 Americans died from the Influenza Virus. Did you get your flu shot?

Mosquitoes and AIDS

The National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has clearly demonstrated that mosquito transmission of AIDS is highly unlikely.

Avoiding Mosquitoes

The obvious way to avoid mosquitoes is to stay indoors during peak mosquito biting activity, specifically at dusk and dawn. This is especially good advice if there is an outbreak of a disease carried by mosquitoes, according to Dr. Charles Morris and Dr. Jonathan Day at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida. When you are outdoors you can avoid mosquitoes by staying away from shaded, humid areas where there is little wind. Mosquitoes are less likely to bite you in open, sunny and breezy areas. If you are bothered by a few mosquitoes, you can often protect yourself by wearing long pants and a long sleeved shirt. The more skin you cover the fewer bites you will get. Light colored clothes make you less attractive, and loose fitting clothes make it more difficult for insects to bite you.

A Mosquito's life revolves around water. Its eggs are laid in water or in areas that are expected to flood. Once the eggs hatch, the mosquito larva must stay in water through their pupal stage. These stages last around one to two weeks before an adult mosquito emerges from the water. If the mosquitoes are males, they stay near the water to mate with emerging females. Male mosquitoes never bite and usually die within a few days after emerging from water. Females, on the other hand, quickly mate with males and fly off in search of blood meals before they lay up to 250 eggs. Following egg laying, females will again search for blood. Mosquito species which originate from water holding containers do not travel far. Therefore, you can reduce mosquito populations around the home by removing unnecessary water holding containers and weekly renewing water in those that remain.

Repelling Mosquitoes

Best of the Lot – DEET. It has long been known that the most effective insect repellents are those that contain DEET. DEET is the abbreviation for the chemical NNT-diethyl-3-methylbenzaniide. DEET has been sold in the United States since 1956 and is used by 50-100 million people each year. In tests done by the Army, repellents with 30-40% DEET worked twice as well as repellents with 75% DEET. It repels mosquitoes, no-see-ums, fleas, ticks, gnats, horse flies, dog flies, deer flies, yellow flies and chiggers. Repellents containing DEET are available as pump sprays, aerosols, lotions, creams, soaps and sticks. In general the inexpensive products contain less than 10% DEET, while the more expensive ones are at least 20% DEET. There are at least 40 products containing from 5% to 95% DEET that can be purchased. Products with more than 35% DEET are available, most often through camping and outdoor supply stores. Which one do you choose, and why? If a little DEET is good; is a lot of DEET better? Not necessarily. In tests done by the Army, repellents with 30-40% DEET worked twice as well as repellents with 75% DEET.

Comparing Different Repellants

An excellent study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, July 4, 2002.
Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents against Mosquito Bites
In the study they compared many different repellants to determine which lasted the longest, providing the best protection:

Side Effects Of Deet

While DEET is the most effective repellent, high concentrations can make you feel unpleasantly oily and can melt plastic and paint finishes. It is safe on nylon, cotton and wool; it can however, damage, rayon, acetate and spandex. Test an inside seam of polyester/cotton blends to see if DEET affects them. DEET can also irritate eyes and sensitive skin and will sometimes cause dry skin. Some people are allergic to DEET, Children tend to be more sensitive to DEET than adults. DEET should never be applied to infants.

To minimize the adverse reactions to DEET:

1. Apply repellent sparingly according to label instructions.
2. Apply repellent to clothing to reduce DEET absorption through the skin.
3. Avoid using products with DEET concentrations over 50%, particularly on children.
4. Do not inhale or ingest repellents or get them into the eyes or on wounds or irritated skin.
5. Avoid applying repellent to children's hands.

How to Treat a Mosquito Bite

Avoiding mosquito bites should be your first line of defense, but if the little bloodsuckers bite, you'll need some defense against itching and infection.

1. Wash the infected area with soap and water as soon as you recognize that you've been bitten. Try to keep the site clean and dry until the irritation abates.
2. Avoid scratching. Although a mosquito bite should itch for only a few days, continual scratching will increase your discomfort and may prolong the itching.
3. Make a paste of baking soda and water, using just enough water to make the paste sticky. Spread the mixture on the bites.
4. Apply an ice pack or ice wrapped in a washcloth to the bite area.
Remember: Cold makes itching better, Heat makes itching worse.
5. Use calamine lotion or a topical anesthetic containing pramoxine to help relieve pain and itching.
6. Purchase 1-percent hydrocortisone cream to alleviate the itching. Follow directions on the package for safe use.
7. Use an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce any accompanying swelling or redness.

Warnings/Disclaimer:
If symptoms persist or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, it is recommend that you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.