Summertime memories are often the most cheerful points of our lives. All those unforgettable walks, parties and barbecues have one thing in common. What is that, you ask? Good food? Not quite. Friends? Yes, but that’s not what we’re aiming for. The answer is mosquito bites. It turns even the best possible day into a scratching bonanza. There are various reasons why these pesky winged creatures attack us. With furious envy, we look at our mosquito bite-free friends. What makes them so special and allows them to escape the mosquitos? The answer is quite simple – mosquitoes are drawn to certain things. Like we love the smell of barbecue, they adore certain smells that our body emits. No matter how much bug spray we use, they can still track us down. Regardless of how much effort we invest, they will keep assaulting if we don’t stop with the things they love. To understand these creatures, we’ve decided to break out some interesting facts. These are en facts, about the real truth behind mosquito bites.

Post-workout sweat

Let’s break out one crucial fact here: Mosquitoes aren’t drawn by the smell of your blood, but to the amounts of CO2 you emit. When you work out, you emit more CO2 than ever before. By breathing it out and allowing your skin to breathe more, you become a target from mosquitoes. Having swarms of mosquitoes attack after a workout can be especially annoying. You are not able to escape such a nasty and annoying way home. The best ways to avoid this is to wear longer-sleeved shirts or sign up for a gym and work out there.

Being away from flowers

This one may seem a little preposterous, but hear us out. If you live or spend time near a field with flowers, your chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes drop. What do exactly a few adorable flowers do to the whole natural system? The key is to know that only female mosquitoes feed on blood. Male mosquitoes feed only on flower pollen and plant nectar. So, in flowered fields; you can only find male mosquitoes. Female ones tend not to venture there because of a lack of animals.

Alcohol consumption

Summer barbecues have beer as an indispensable ingredient. There is nothing better than wiping some sweat off and cooling yourself down with a beer. Cracking open a cold one with the boys may also have some negative repercussions. This type of beverage may very well attract our winged friends. Mosquitoes get attracted to the chemical changes in our skin. This happens when alcohol enters our bloodstream and starts spreading around the body.

Smelly feet

This may seem funny, but it’s proven. Our shoes are made out of synthetic fabric. After spending the whole day jogging, walking or standing, an odor will present itself. When you decide to take them off, mosquitoes may decide to assault you. Since your feet were unable to breathe for the entire day, the pores will release a ton of CO2. That, combined with the plethora of sweat drops within that area may be the deciding factor. Mosquitoes love these smells.

Hanging out in groups

Since mosquitoes are attracted to CO2 emissions, it’s pretty obvious what this one means. By hanging out in a group, mosquitos smell the CO2 emissions from the group easier. The more people you hang out in one place, the higher are the chances of a mosquito attack.

Being in the vicinity of water surfaces

Still water surfaces like ponds, puddles, and lakes offer the ideal habitat to every mosquito. The warm and wet air makes an ideal breeding ground for young mosquitoes to develop. It grows into the blood-eating menaces they are. Combine the air with lots of people and animal nearby, and you have a perfect mixture. If you find a good mosquito repellent, you may be able to help yourself a little bit.

Not mowing your lawn nor taking care of your yard

Remember when we mentioned that mosquitoes like hot air and water surfaces? Well, those aren’t the only things they like. Their species thrive in thick and unkempt vegetation. If your grass is a little less tidy, there are chances that you’re hosting a mosquito breeding ground. So, if you wish to avoid mosquito attacks, mow your lawn. Also, when rain falls, more water can get trapped in tall grass. This gives mosquitoes a cool hiding place, away from your iron fist. Bushes and high tree branches are also safe havens for mosquitoes.

A lack of CO2 emitting traps

There are special types of lanterns that emit UV light and CO2. These contraptions make an ideal mosquito lure to put in your backyard. Because of their high carbon dioxide emission, mosquitoes will fly to them. After some time, they will send signals to their mates to stop trying to invade your yard. If you place them strategically around your yard, mosquitoes may be a thing of the past. To close all points of entry, you can calculate the distance between different traps. Smart placement equals the disappearance of mosquitoes.

Pregnancy

If you’re a woman who’s expecting, you’re basically a hotspot for all mosquitoes. Not only is your body warmer than ever, but you emit a plethora of signals for these critters to attack. You emit more carbon dioxide and sweat more due to the hormonal changes within your body. That’s why it’s essential to have window covers against mosquitoes. They carry certain viruses and diseases that you may be more prone of. Since pregnant women have lower immunity, you must protect your child.

Stress

You always hear about the detrimental effects of stress. It raises blood pressure and contributes to cardiovascular diseases. People who stress too much tend to have different chemical structures. This means that mosquitoes will find you interesting. It’s not so rare that you hear someone having a bad day and then getting assaulted by mosquitoes. With that not being a coincidence, you may want to relax and keep it cool.