Keep mosquitoes away

According to Timothy C. Winegard, the author of "The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator," "Unfortunately, 85% of what makes us more or less attractive to mosquitoes is hardwired in our genetic circuit board." He claims that lactic acid in your skin, your blood type, the amount of carbon dioxide you exhale, and your natural scents are all contributing factors. So, in the end, you're kind much stuck with what you have until you CRISPR yourself via genetic engineering.

Even if all you want to do is spend the evening on your patio, there are methods to outsmart the summer's most bothersome party crashers. Since mosquitoes are essential to ecosystems, we're not talking about getting rid of them from your yard, but here are some tips from professionals if you want to keep them out of a gathering place for a few priceless hours.

Identify your blood type.

Because the proteins in your blood aid in the growth and maturation of their eggs, female mosquitoes are the only ones who feed on humans. Winegard explains, "She's just being a good mom." Her preferred demographic is those with blood type O. They get bit twice as frequently as blood type A individuals, with blood type B being in the middle.

Remain calm

According to Winegard, "mosquitoes hunt by both smell and infrared sight, if you want to call it that. They are able to detect the target's heat signature and smell the carbon dioxide. Choose a mocktail instead of booze to keep your body temperature down and make yourself tougher to find.

Wear light colors

Dark clothes can help you stay cooler, but that's not the only benefit it might provide. According to Daniel Markowski, technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association, "Mosquitoes, like many biting flies, are attracted to darker colors." The reasoning behind this is that larger, dark-bodied creatures are what they normally prey on. As a result, they have evolved to find dark, moving animals.

Protect yourself

With the correct repellent, even if you can't keep every mosquito away, you can stop them from biting you. Markowski claims that DEET is "the gold standard" because it works well in almost all circumstances. Despite a long-standing stigma, the Environmental Protection Agency has discovered that regular DEET use poses no health risks to the general public. Markowski further mentions that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have approved of it.

Additionally, he suggests using oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is derived from the Corymbia citriodora plant, and Picaridin, an odorless, synthetic insect repellent that works well against a range of mosquito species. alternative plant-based choices including peppermint, lavender, and citronella "can be good if you're not highly attractive to mosquitoes," claims Markowski.

Blow them away

Mosquitoes are not especially strong fliers, so adding a fan to your patio can be an effective deterrent. But a lazily whirring overhead fan, such as what you’d find on a covered porch, won’t be enough. Instead go for a larger box fan set on high, says Markowski.

Smoke them out

Try lighting a wood-burning chiminea or firepit if the weather is not too oppressive. Because "we don't like smoke in our face," according to Winegard, "smoke from a wood fire is an effective mosquito repellent the same way it is for any other animal, whether it's humans or lions or anything else."

Get rid of standing water

Mother mosquitoes lay about 100 eggs at a time, so even a glass of drinking water left on the porch can become a breeding site for mosquito eggs. They require very little to reproduce. It may be a smashed pop can or a backyard toy like a Tonka truck with some water in it, claims Winegard. The moment you get rid of it, "they'll go somewhere else to lay their eggs."

If you have a bird bath, consider purchasing a biopesticide from a hardware shop, such Mosquito Dunks, which you drop into water to kill mosquito larvae for at least 30 days.These are household goods made from natural ingredients, and they work fairly well.