Do Mosquitos Really Color Code Their Victims?

Image Credit: Colfra/Unsplash

Besides being notorious bloodsucking vampires, can someone please tell me exactly what good or service mosquitos serve? Do they have a little mosquito Red Cross Center where they deposit pints of blood they later use in transfusions for malnourished mosquitos needing blood?

They say that mosquitos play a substantial role in our ecosystem. Yeah, right. So, male mosquitoes transfer pollen from flower to flower, which fertilizes plants and allows them to reproduce. Can’t we just leave that pollination process to the bees? Mosquitos are also part of the food web for fish, birds, bats, frogs, and flies. Oh happy, happy, joy, joy! Can’t the birds, bats, frogs, and flies munch on something else like Doritos, Fritos, potato chips, trail mix, or a nice juicy worm?

But get this, female mosquitoes are the culprits who bite people and animals to get a blood meal. Most female mosquitoes cannot produce eggs without a blood meal. Well now, can you say infertility boys and girls? Male mosquitoes do not bite people and animals. Is that so? To me, a mosquito is a mosquito. I apologize to all of you Culicidae lovers out there, but these little flying insects aren’t my cup of tea, or coffee, or wine!

Image – Creator: HAYKIRDI | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

It seems as though mosquitos are attracted to certain colors. Wait, so mosquitos are the vampire-biting fashion police prone to color-coding the shades of clothing their preferred victims wear? Are those Pantone colors by chance? And who do these mosquitos think they are? Louis Vuitton? Coco Chanel? Karl Lagerfeld? Gucci? Vera Wang? Oscar de la Renta? Jimmy Choo? Versace?

It seems like red, orange, cyan (blue-green), and black tend to attract mosquitos while colors like white, green, blue, and purple repel them. The real question is, what if I wear a color that attracts and one that repels at the same time? Hmmm. So then, I turned to the colors in my outdoor living space since I spend a lot of time on my deck. It is suggested that when selecting colors to avoid mosquitoes, consider white wood, metal, plastic, or wicker furniture over black or dark bronze iron. Guess who has black iron outdoor furniture?

The recommendations also suggest when selecting cushions, doormats, and decorative accents, look for items in blues, purples, greens, and white to lower the likelihood of mosquito problems. Well now, guess again who has bright tropical cushions on the front porch, bright red flower pots, and deep gold/ruby red/tan cushions on their deck?

No, I did not consult my mosquito handbook when selecting colors to wear outdoors and what colors to decorate my outdoor living space. Does this mean that I have to walk around with marigolds, citronella candles, and insect repellent every time I sit outside to enjoy the great open-air space I am privy to? UGH, what a nuisance! 

Image Credit: Dave Granlund/Gaston Gazette