defenderpest

What Are Mosquitoes Attracted To?

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 20:46:56 GMT

Unexpected Things That Attract Mosquitoes To You

Have you ever noticed that mosquitoes play favorites? Think about it. You're outdoors at a party, and certain people are being bombarded while others roam about unbothered. The truth is that specific things attract these pests, some of which are pretty strange.

Body Heat

Your mass and metabolism play a part in how much heat you generate. Some people naturally radiate more body heat. If you tend to run hot, mosquitoes notice you more because they are attracted to higher body temperatures. They are the animal kingdom's version of a heat-seeking missile.

Sweat And Body Odor

A chemical compound in human perspiration called 4-methyl phenol activates a female mosquito's receptors when she's hungry. Bacteria combined with sweat creates the body odor they find irresistible.

Foot Odor

Foot odor is an attractant because they are strongly attracted to the bacteria on stinky feet, and a study showed malaria-ridden mosquitoes are more than three times more likely to be attracted. Scientists are using this to an advantage, however, as traps containing a synthetic foot odor have been developed.

Dancing And Movement

Mosquitoes track movement, and the more you move around, the more they zero in on you. Vigorous dancing produces lactic acid, and those with more lactic acid on their skin are prime targets. However, it is not the acid itself that attracts them. The lactic acid increases the pest's attraction to other substances we emit, like carbon dioxide and ammonia.

Dark Colors

Wearing dark colors provides mosquitoes with a better target to track, and researchers have found that aqua, red, orange, and black are their favorite colors. They are attracted to black because they seek out dark places that prevent dehydration. When it comes to color, there are no specifics that repel them, it is a matter of which color, they like more. Lighter-colored clothing gives you a better chance of avoiding an attack.

Alcohol Consumption

Mosquitoes are much more attracted to people who've been consuming alcohol, especially beer. So, if you're going to chug-a-lug, you'd better prepare yourself for the bugs. A French study showed that drinking a pint of beer increased the likelihood of being bitten by 15% and the attractiveness to you by mosquitoes by 47%. One myth suggests that rubbing alcohol can repel the pest, but there is no scientific proof.

Perfume

Male mosquitoes' sole food source is nectar, and while females feed on blood during their egg-laying cycle, they too feed on nectar when not egg-laying. They track down the sources of nectar with their incredible sense of smell. The flowery perfumes, soaps, and lotions we use can have the same effect on them.

Blood Type

These pests are twice as likely to target you if you have Type O blood rather than type A. Type B falls somewhere in between the others. Different blood types contain different proteins called antigens, and this nuisance pest can smell them. Research has also shown that 85% of us secrete a chemical through our skin that lets the mosquito know what blood type we are. That's good news for the other 15% of us because the insect is more attracted to secreters regardless of blood type.

Panting

If you're panting, you're not doing yourself any favors when it comes to mosquitoes. They track you by the carbon dioxide you expel. The more of it there is, the likelier they'll find you. We aren't suggesting refraining from exercise and other activities that can cause panting; we are suggesting taking the necessary precautions to avoid them from finding you.

Pregnancy

We're happy to hear the good news, but we've got some bad news, too. Pregnant women attract more mosquitoes because they exhale more carbon dioxide and typically have higher body temperatures.

Diet

The unhealthier your diet is, the more probable it is that mosquitoes can make you a part of their diet. High sodium foods like potato chips, bacon, and roasted peanuts cause increased production of the dreaded lactic acid. High Cholesterol and sweet treats are also menu favorites.

They are attracted to lots of weird things, but there are still things you can do to make yourself less susceptible. And when you need more help, you've got us, Defender Pest Control. We can help make your home and landscape less prone to pest problems in general. Nobody knows how to do that better, so contact us today and add us to your guest list.

DIY Pest Control

penni@tandette.com — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 21:42:05 GMT

Why DIY Pest Control Does Not Work

DIY pest control rarely works. If you’ve already tried to get rid of them on your own, you’ve probably reached this same conclusion and are now here because you are wondering why it failed. Or perhaps you are currently experiencing a problem and are looking for a solution. If so, please don’t attempt it. It’s a waste of your time and money. The truth is that most DIY pest control efforts are unsuccessful in the long run. They ultimately fail for various reasons, and here’s the how and why.

Pest Immunities

Once upon a time, pest control meant taking a trip to the hardware store and selecting the appropriate over-the-counter product on the shelf. If you followed the directions on the box, you could handle it yourself fairly easily. But those days are gone, unfortunately. Some of those products are still there, but their effectiveness is decidedly not. Some have been pulled off the market due to toxicity.

Over the years, pests have developed a strong immunity to many of these frequently-used pesticides. It’s a consequence that happens naturally, and we’ve seen the same thing happen with bacteria and viruses that have become immune to common antibiotics. Life, as they say, finds a way. With familiarity and overuse of the same products, they adapt and pass genetic mutations on to their offspring. As a result, the new generations have become more and more resistant to those pesticides that once worked well, and now the results are marginal.

The Rapid Growth Of Pest Populations

Another factor is the sheer number of pests these days. Their populations are steadily rising to out-of-control numbers and have been for quite a while now. Why? To a certain extent, we can blame Mother Earth for this one, and perhaps even ourselves. Global warming is the culprit. As the planet changes and warms up , it creates an ideal environment for many different pests to thrive. In this new, bug-friendly world, bugs live longer and breed more prolifically than ever. Grasshopper populations turning into devastating swarms around the world are an example.

Scientists are reporting that cockroaches are bigger now than they’ve been since the age of the dinosaurs. Furthermore, some species are getting bigger in body size. The more pests there are, and the bigger they are, the harder it becomes to control them. DIY control is just not up to the task.

The Pest Control Inexperience Of The Homeowner

One of the biggest reasons DIY efforts often fail is due to the inexperience of the homeowner. To effectively eliminate a problem, you must first accurately identify the exact species you are dealing with. For the average person, this is not easy because many species look alike. For most of us, an ant is an ant, or is it a termite? Despite looking similar, the method of control or extermination can be vastly different.

You need to be able to locate all infested areas, including the nests. More often than not, those nests are hidden deep in the structures of your home. Finding and reaching those nests can be impossible without special equipment and knowing where to look. If you can’t wipe out the nests, you are not wiping out the infestation.

You need a plan and products and tools that work. As we explained above, the over-the-counter stuff is just not enough. Professional-grade products and equipment do work and are often only available to licensed professionals.

Lastly, you may be unknowingly guilty of certain habits or behaviors that invite them in and enable them to infest your home. Knowing what to do and not to do is a key factor in understanding what modifications to your home you should make to help keep them out.

DIY Pest Control Can Be Harmful

Pests can be dangerous. You risk getting bitten, stung, or scratched when you interact with them. And along with those painful physical injuries come the many different health problems that can arise. Insects and other animals carry zoonotic diseases, parasites, and bacteria that can make us very sick. You may already be at risk when you have an infestation in your home, but it worsens when attempting to confront those invaders. Animals are at their most aggressive and dangerous when they feel threatened.

Another danger is working with pest control products themselves. Exposing yourself to something designed to kill or trap another living thing is not a good idea. Professionals have special training, protective clothing, respirators, and other equipment at their disposal to minimize their risk.

Professional Pest Management Is The Answer

If you have a pest problem, the only true answer is to seek the services of a trained professional, and you should do so as soon as you suspect you have an issue. Timing is critically important. Every day you wait is another day of breeding, contamination, and destruction.

In Nashville, Tennessee, and the surrounding areas, your top-rated choice is Defender Pest Control. We are experienced professionals in dealing with these problems, and we use the latest products, techniques, science, and technologies to bring you modern-day solutions that work. So, please say no to ineffective DIY methods and choose wisely. Contact us today and let us know how we can help.