Study suggests that shirt color could be the key to scaring away mosquitoes
Mosquitos are buzzing; summer must be here. Advice from biologists on how to avoid being bit.
The start of summer brings with it many fond memories: summer holidays, trips to the beach, and long walks in the countryside. Unfortunately, all of these idyllic pursuits can be ruined by the involvement of an unwelcome guest. Mosquitoes.
These tiny biting insects often leave their victims with red, itchy scars. Worst still, numerous diseases and viruses are carried by the winged insects, meaning that they are definitely best avoided.
Fortunately, a new study from the University of Washington claims to have uncovered the secret: wearing cooler colors.
Researchers found that a species of common mosquito is more likely to be attracted to red or orange colors because they are closer to the color emitted by human skin. At the other end of the spectrum, mosquitos ignore cooler shades of green, blue, purple, and white.
Avoid red clothes to steer clear of mosquito bites
The study, entitled ‘The olfactory gating of visual preferences to human skin and visible spectra in mosquitoes’, tracks a number of factors related to how mosquitos choose hosts and mates. In the written abstract, researchers concluded:
The study was carried out with the use of a real-time 3D tracking system to quantify the behavior of more than 1.3 million mosquito trajectories. It was carried out in a wind tunnel so scientists could control factors that might influence mosquito decision-making.
Professor explains Washington study
Jeffrey Riffell, a professor of biology at the University of Washington, explains that previously, it had been thought that the three factors attracting mosquitoes were breath, sweat, and skin temperature. However, his team was able to add color to the list of things that can make you stand out from a mosquito.
“In this study, we found a fourth cue: the color red, which can not only be found on your clothes but is also found in everyone’s skin,” he said.
Another important conclusion drawn from the study was the impact of odor on mosquitoes’ behavior. They found that without any odor stimulus (recreating the CO2 produced by humans and other animals), mosquitoes largely ignored all colors. However, once a small amount of CO2 was added to the wind tunnel, the mosquitoes were far more drawn to red, orange, and black objects.