Now that West Nile has made an appearance in Colorado, it's probably a good idea to start thinking about mosquito protection. While many people (80%) who get bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile dont get sick or just get very mild symptoms, others get sick enough to be knocked out of work or day-to-day life; some even wind up with a stay in the "big house" ...AKA the hospital.
So you've probably heard the standard advice: use an insect repellent containing DEET, make sure there's no standing water on your property, etc. etc.
Yet I get a lot of questions from people who say, " My fill in the blank doesn't get bitten, but I seem to attract mosquitos like bees to honey no matter what I do. " And you know what, that's actually a true phenomenon- some people are truly mosquito magnets no matter how much they dowse themselves in DEET or other repellents.
So here are some facts to keep in mind when it comes to hungry mosquitoes... and possibly some things you can do to make yourself less tasty (although sometimes you just can't change the basic attraction.)
1. A hungry mosquito will travel more than 30 miles for a good meal- so if you hear about cases out of your area- don't get too smug.
2. Mosquitoes identify their meals by size, heat, and smell.
3. Therefore, the better you smell, the better you taste. Fragrances, lotions, and luscious shampoos can make you a bug magnet.
4. Bugs love people who wear dark solids- and pass on those who wear, say, a stripped or floral shirts. (Or maybe they just dont to be seen with them from a fashion point of view.)
5. Heat, moisture, and movement also are powerful attractants so if you're running around working up a sweat, prepare to start swatting.
6. And if that running around made you work up a thirst, DON'T reach for alcohol, especially a cold beer. When it pours out of your pores, it's like a bugle call to mosquitoes.
7. Going out right after a meal makes you tastier- it's not the food but the heat generated by digestion.
8. Dark hair is more atttactive to light (see above, under clothing).
9. Size does matter- the bigger you are, the more likely a target you are. I mean put yourself in the mosquito's shoes (or stinger) , why have a kids meal when you can super-size your victim?
10. Finally, for women, midcyle is a bad time.of the month. A surge in hormones may also make you a tastier treat to a mosquito.
Wish I had better advice, but some things don't have a foolproof medical fix. I guess that why they call them "bugs."
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