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What color clothes to wear to avoid mosquito bites?

Few people know that the color of our clothes can actually repel mosquitoes. So, what color should we wear to avoid mosquito bites?

Administrator

24 October, 2023

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Using mosquito repellent, insecticides, planting certain types of plants with essential oils… are commonly spread tips to repel mosquitoes. But did you know that even the color of your clothes can affect the behavior of these blood-sucking insects?

What color clothes to wear to avoid mosquito bites?

A study by the University of Washington, USA has proven that the color of clothing can attract the attention of mosquitoes or make them avoid it. Bright and light colors are considered a threat to them.

Mosquitoes usually avoid biting under direct sunlight and are more active at dusk and dawn, as they are more prone to death due to dehydration. Bright colors make them scared because it triggers their instinct to stay away from danger.

If you are in an environment with many mosquitoes and want to reduce the risk of being bitten, the secret may lie in the clothes you wear. The research of a group of experts at the University of Washington shows that some colors attract insects more than others.

What color clothes to wear to avoid mosquito bites? Remember that red is the most attractive color to mosquitoes. (Photo: KROC)

The researchers built a test chamber and filled it with filtered air and released mosquitoes into it. When there was no scent as a stimulant, most of the mosquitoes ignored the colored dots at the bottom of the chamber.

Then, they pumped CO2 – a gas found in human breath – into the chamber and observed the reaction of mosquitoes to the colored objects placed in the test chamber. Mosquitoes continued to ignore green, pale blue or purple dots and flew towards red, orange, black or dark blue dots.

These findings show that wearing clothes with less attractive colors to mosquitoes can help humans avoid being bitten by them.

Jeffrey Riffell, a biology professor at the University of Washington and the head of the research team, shared on Sacbee.com: “The results of the study show that colors like black, red, orange, dark blue are very attractive to mosquitoes and if you wear clothes with those colors, your attractiveness to them will increase. But if you wear clothes in white, purple, pale blue, and light green, you will become less attractive to mosquitoes.”

According to experts, if you wear clothes in white, purple, and light green, it may help you avoid mosquito bites (Photo: Mosquito Control)

In the study, mosquitoes were attracted to the bare hands of humans, but when scientists wore gloves in green, mosquitoes immediately stayed away.

Pale blue does not attract mosquitoes, but dark blue absorbs heat, so if you wear clothes in this color, you will make them fly towards you.

Purple has the shortest wavelength in all the colors on the visible light spectrum. Mosquitoes are attracted to red and orange (with longer wavelengths) on our skin, so it is not surprising that they “avoid” purple.

During the study, the scientists brought white into the test chamber along with all the other colors to be tested and found that the mosquitoes always avoided white when they saw other colors that they were interested in.

Some ways to repel mosquitoes

To limit mosquitoes, you can apply the following methods:

– Carry insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to limit exposed skin.

– Eliminate areas with stagnant water, such as pet bowls, bird baths, and trash cans, as mosquitoes can use these areas for breeding.

– Keep your lawn and gutters clean.

– Consult mosquito control experts.

– Avoid certain colors when living in outdoor spaces.

According to VTC news