Key Points at a Glance
- Most species of mosquitoes are out to feed on our blood in the spring and summer.
- However, some of them even survive the colder seasons—they seek out sheltered spots, often in houses and apartments.
- As for the time of day, these pests are often active in the evening and at night.
- However, there are also mosquitoes that are more active during the day. So we humans are never completely safe from those itchy bites.
I’m sure you’re familiar with this phenomenon. Not a single mosquito in the apartment all evening, but as soon as you lay your head down and turn off the light, you hear that all-too-familiar, soft buzzing. At first it’s still a little distant, and the next moment it feels as if the mosquito is flying right around your head.
Mosquitoes are attracted to your breath
And that assumption isn’t wrong at all. In fact, these blood-sucking insects always seek out the area near your head because they’re magically drawn to the carbon dioxide you exhale. If, on top of that, you have blood type 0 or B and your partner sleeping next to you in bed doesn’t, that can be quite annoying—it could mean a restless night with lots of itchy mosquito bites the next morning. By the way, an insect bite remedy works wonders against the itching—if you’re willing to endure a brief moment of pain…
But let’s get back to the question of when mosquitoes become active. There’s no clear-cut answer to this, because some species are indeed active during the day, ruining our time at the lake or out in nature. They’re particularly fond of doing this in areas with water—that is, in floodplains and wetlands. But with sufficient insect repellent—such as sprays—you can prevent the worst of it.
The house mosquito lies in wait for us in the evening
Unlike the daytime pests, which prefer to seek out their victims in nature, the house mosquito looks forward to the onset of darkness. It’s mainly the drop in temperature that suits them, because on a hot summer day, the insects would overheat. Once the evening coolness settles over your home, these biting flying acrobats are ravenous and thirsty—and they launch their attack.
Although, to be fair, we should really call them “female flying acrobats.” That’s because male mosquitoes aren’t interested in us humans; plant-based food is enough for them. The females, on the other hand, need protein for reproduction—specifically for the eggs they lay—and they get that from human blood. Incidentally, these insects don’t wait for you to turn on the light on the patio; they aren’t attracted to it, as popular belief still claims. They are guided by the carbon dioxide we exhale, the lactic acid produced by sweat, and our blood type.
Long-sleeved clothing is recommended
So it’s hard to escape those little pests—they’re everywhere and are practically always one wingbeat ahead of us. But there are ways to spoil the mosquitoes’ fun, such as wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts to minimize our exposed skin. Spray or rub insect repellent on any exposed skin—and don’t be too sparing with it. That way, you’ll be pretty well prepared against their attacks.
