10 Ways to Survive Summer if You’re a Mosquito Magnet

While some lucky individuals rarely have to worry about being bitten by mosquitoes and can work and play outdoors without a care, others of us are mosquito magnets. If that's you, heading outside for summer fun requires significant preparation. Luckily, we’ve done all the homework for you and consulted an entomologist about the best ways to repel mosquitoes and prevent bites, including which mosquito hacks are worth trying and which ones you should skip.

Why Mosquitoes Seem to Target You

Emma Grace Crumbley, entomologist at Mosquito Squad Plus, says that if you think mosquitoes love you, you're not crazy — and you're not alone. Some people are just more appetizing to mosquitoes.

"Mosquitoes use multiple chemical and visual cues to target hosts when they're looking for their next meal, and unfortunately, some people look, smell and taste better than others," she explains. "Mosquito attraction is linked to the heat we give off, the amount that we sweat and the makeup of our skin’s microbiome, particularly dermal volatile compounds (aka, how our skin smells according to mosquitoes)."

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites This Summer

If you're one of those people mosquitoes just can't get enough every summer, try these effective ways of preventing bites:

1. Choose the right bug spray. Not all bug sprays are created equally, so Emma recommends looking for EPA-registered insect repellants for the best results. "The EPA lists several insect repellents effective against pests like mosquitoes. They even have a few DEET-free alternatives for individuals with DEET allergies or who prefer not to use it," she offers.
2. Treat your clothing with permethrin. While permethrin should never be used directly on your skin, the EPA endorses its use for tick and mosquito prevention in other ways, including to treat your clothing. When using permethrin to treat your clothing, always closely follow the instructions for safe application and dry times.
3. Modify your routines and outdoor time. Sometimes, staying indoors during certain high-mosquito times of the day is the best way to avoid being bitten. "Avoid being outdoors during the early morning or early evening (dawn and dusk). Mosquitoes are crepuscular animals and are most active during these times of day," explains Emma.
4. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Emma says simply trading dark clothing for lighter colors can keep mosquitoes from being attracted to you. "Darker clothes are easier for mosquitoes to see, and darker colors hold more heat and make us sweat more," she says.
5. Use fans. Mosquitoes are generally weak fliers, so all it takes is a gentle breeze from a strategically placed fan to keep mosquitoes at bay while you enjoy some time outdoors.
6. Tackle breeding grounds directly. Mosquitoes have a very predictable lifestyle, which makes it easy to target their breeding grounds. To reduce the mosquitoes in your yard, remove or treat any standing water, clear yard debris, dethatch your lawn and plant insect-repelling plants in strategic locations.
7. Make mosquito buckets. Mosquito bucket traps have been making their way around social media in recent years and, while they may seem like just another viral hack, Emma says they can be fairly effective. "By combining a bucket of water with a mosquito larvicide, usually a product containing Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a soil bacterium), mosquito buckets lure in mosquitoes looking to lay eggs and kill the larvae before they can molt to adulthood," she explains. To maximize effectiveness, she recommends eliminating other areas of standing water around the home.
8. Skip the scents. Crumbley says that mosquitoes and other pests, such as flies and wasps, love strong scents, particularly floral and fruit ones. "Fragrant perfumes, sunscreens, deodorants or lotions can unintentionally attract mosquitoes and work against any repellents you may have applied," she notes.
9. Wash off bacteria. As mentioned above, mosquitoes target certain people based on the smell of their skin. Sometimes a simple shower before going outdoors, especially after a workout, can help reduce the number of mosquitoes that target you.
10. Skip the beer. You may love a crisp IPA on the patio at the end of a long day, but so do your local mosquitoes. Alcohol consumption can make you more attractive to mosquitoes by increasing body temperature, perspiration and the chemical cues mosquitoes use to find hosts.

Mosquito Hacks Worth Trying

Viral DIY mosquito hacks are constantly making the rounds online, and Emma says some are worth trying — while others aren't worth your time. According to her, the aforementioned mosquito buckets can be very effective, as can promoting natural predators in your yard, such as fish, frogs, birds, bats, and spiders, which can do the pest control for you.

"I am not advocating for introducing or releasing animals into your yard that aren't already there," she clarifies. "But leaving up the occasional spider web or adding a bat box to your trees can help attract more natural predators."

As for mosquito hacks that don't work, she recommends skipping the citronella candles. "While citronella is a scent that mosquitoes don't like, citronella candles only diffuse this scent into the air column directly above the candle. Even if you add a fan next to your candle to diffuse the scent, it's nearly impossible to evenly distribute the scent throughout the air space of your patio, deck, or backyard."

Additionally, though coffee grounds are touted as an effective mosquito-prevention method, she says they're better for plant maintenance than for mosquito control. In fact, she says the coffee grounds could even attract mosquitoes if they're wet.

Pro Tip: Regardless of the DIY mosquito-repelling methods you try, Emma stresses that these hacks work best when paired with integrated approaches, such as keeping a tidy yard and applying proven mosquito-control measures.