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Mosquito Vision: How Mosquitoes See Colors?
Mosquitoes can surprisingly pinpoint their targets specially humans and animals for bloodmeals, with accurate precision. This pinpoint accuracy is complemented with their vision and their behavior against certain colors and therefore it becomes imperative to find what colors are mosquitoes attracted to? Some researchers also believe that colors may not attract mosquitoes directly but rather after smelling the carbon dioxide and body odor, they prefer certain colors to land on.
These colors which are from the higher wavelengths like Red (620-750nm) and Orange (590-620nm) and Black (it lacks wavelength as there is no reflection) which do not reflect light and has no wavelength at all. And according to personal experiences, many people claims that dark colors like Navy blues, Purple, black attract mosquitoes which are from low wavelength regions. So, this is not convincing enough to declare that mosquitoes prefer any particular range of wavelength. Than what it is?
According to Jeffrey Riffell, a UW professor of biology – In addition to the 3 major cues that attract mosquitoes – your breath, your sweat and temperature of your skin; there is one another major cue that they have found in a study, is – color ‘Red’. This red color irrespective of your clothing, is also present in everybody’s skin, whatever the shade of the skin maybe it doesn’t matter.
Mosquito vision v/s Human vision
Humans can see colors from the visible spectrum of 380nm to 740nm, ranging from Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red, known as “true color” vision. While we can see achromatic colors like black and white also, we do not know how mosquitoes perceive these colors.
How mosquitoes see colors?
Mosquitoes don’t see colors as we humans do. Their eyes are more sensitive and capable of detecting changes to motion, contrast and wavelengths of light. We all know that carbon dioxide, body odors, sweat which contains lactic acid and ammonia, etc. attracts mosquitoes. But researchers have proved through various studies that there are certain colors that amplify these attraction.
And this attraction to colors, works only after mosquitoes smell the carbon dioxide or sweat/body odor from humans or animals.
Once they zero-in the presence of hosts in the area, by detecting trails of carbon dioxide and body odors through their olfactory senses; only thereafter they follow certain visual cues for final locating and landing on their target.
Mosquitoes attraction to colors
After smelling and locating the carbon dioxide trails, the mosquitoes gets attracted towards – Red, Orange, Black and Cyan colors while ignoring all other colors including purple, blue, green and white. The researchers believed that the human-skin emits a strong red-orange signal to their eyes, irrespective of the individual skin tone and pigmentation.
It was generalized till now, that mosquitoes can identify surfaces against sharp contrasting backgrounds, which helps them to locate their targets.
Are mosquitoes attracted to dark colors?
Also, some colors tend to attract mosquitoes naturally and appear more contrasting against natural backgrounds thereby giving a perception of being closer to targeted hosts, which is also accompanied by their ability to sense body heat wavelengths and this why mainly mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.
What colors attract mosquitoes?
Are mosquitoes attracted to certain colors?
Colors are nothing else but perception of light that is being reflected from a surface. The chromophores that are present in any surface, absorbs certain wavelength of light and reflects the remaining. The presence of these chromophores decides the color of an object. When light do not falls on an object there will be no reflection and absorption, as we experience in complete darkness where even the white object seems to appear black.
But, here the wavelength of light plays an important role as particular colors which gives higher absorption of light like black and dark colors, are warm due to heat absorption. And this heat absorption along with their higher visual contrast makes mosquitoes to easily detect these colors and locate their potential hosts.
Why mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors?
Mosquitoes are naturally attracted to certain colors, while dark colors like Black and Navy being the most attractive.
- Dark Colors (Black and Navy): Mosquitoes like dark colors and are attracted to them because of their strong visual contrast. Against the natural backgrounds of lawns and sky, and other light colored backgrounds, these dark shades including black, navy blue and other dark tones appears very distinct and makes it visible and identifiable by mosquitoes from a certain distance. Also, these dark colors absorbs more light and heat and makes it easier to detect, being similar to body heat wavelengths.
- Red and Orange: These are warm colors and their wavelength appears similar to body heat from the higher wavelength range of spectrum. these warm colors actually mimics the body heat and warmth they are usually drawn to. Due to certain proteins present in the tip of their antennae, they can sense infrared radiation from these colors which is similar to the body heat of their hosts.
- Purple and Blue: Not as strong as Black, Navy, Red or orange; but these are also attractive to mosquitoes. In low light conditions, at around peak activity hours; these colors appears as high contrast visuals and lead to their potential hosts.
What colors repel mosquitoes?
There are also some colors that mosquitoes are not attracted to or don’t find them visually appealing:
- White: White color reflects most of the light and there is something missing a certain wavelength or something which fails to attract mosquitoes. This can be the required red orange wavelength that mosquitoes are attracted to after smelling the carbon dioxide trails.
- Light colors and pastel shades: These colors like beige, khaki, soft green, fawn, baby pink, light grey, etc. reflects most of the light and absorbs minimum heat. These light and pastel shades can easily blend with the outdoor environment, making the mosquitoes difficult to locate hosts as there is no warm colors that absorbs heat. They also have low contrast and high reflective nature.
What color clothes attract mosquitoes
The mosquitoes gets attracted to those colors which are high contrasting with the environment and do not blend easily and remain standing out in any natural background. The colors mosquitoes like also depends on the amount of heat the color of the clothes retains and amount of light it reflects.
- Black is the most attractive color to mosquitoes, which absorbs most of the light and heat.
- Navy blue among the dark colors is the most attractive after black.
- Bright colored clothes mainly Bright Red and Orange attract mosquitoes
- Purple, Blue, Green, Brown, Magenta, Maroon, Rust, are also attractive to mosquitoes.
- Bold patterns, with a mix of dark and bright colors which attracts mosquitoes easily.
The best colors to wear to avoid mosquito bites are opposite to the above mentioned ones, which absorbs no heat and has highest possible reflection of light. That is also less distinct and low contrasting.
Practical tips for choosing colors to avoid mosquitoes
Avoiding mosquito bites with clothing color choices – the colors that mosquitoes see and gets attracted to:
- Prefer light and neutral colors, like white, beige and pastel shades which are less visually contrasting and provides maximum reflection with no to minimum heat absorption.
- Outdoor seating furniture and decors like patio curtains, chair cushions and table covers, etc. should be preferably in light colors to avoid attracting any mosquitoes.
- Should avoid wearing red and orange colors including rust and all similar bright tones, when going outdoors.
- Wear mosquito protective clothing, treated with specialized nano-particles of mosquito repelling agents that lasts multiple washes.
These colors are less noticeable for mosquitoes and easily blend with outdoor environment. In this way, we can mimic absence of humans and pets in the surroundings by camouflaging our body heat and odor.
What color are mosquitoes least attracted to?
The mosquitoes are least attracted to colors that do not absorb heat and reflects most of the light. The best colors to repel mosquitoes are those that have low contrast and higher reflective nature, because of which they appears cool and blend easily with natural backgrounds in the outdoors.
These colors to which mosquitoes are least attracted to (mosquito prevention clothing colors) includes:
- White
- Beige
- Cream
- Pastel yellow
- Mint Green
- Sky Blue
- Soft Pink
- Light grey
The above given shades are best colors to repel mosquitoes, as they are soft, gentle, neutral with low visual contrast and blends easily in any backgrounds at the outdoors.
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Conclusion
Understanding, what colors are mosquitoes attracted to can make us more proactive and confident. Dark and bright colors like Dark red and orange, black and navy that attracts mosquitoes can be avoided while going outdoors and also should be avoided for home decors for furniture, patio and other sitting areas. And opting for lighter and pastel shades like white, cream, beige, soft pink, mint green, etc. will make you less noticeable for mosquitoes.
Deciding upon colors along with factors like scents and perfumes, peak activity times of mosquitoes, and use of suitable mosquito repellents will keep you protected against mosquitoes. By working out these factors, you can create a strategy and improvise your approach in reducing your encounters with mosquitoes and strengthen your defense.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What color lights do mosquitoes hate?
Mosquitoes avoid yellow and orange lights, as these produces wavelengths that are less visible and attractive to mosquitoes. Red lights are also not attractive as they lack cool tones and are less similar to natural outdoor lighting. To keep mosquitoes away from outdoor spaces you can use yellow LED lights and sodium vapor lights. However, bright white lights, the ones with cool tones will attract mosquitoes.
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What colors do mosquitoes like?
Certain colors that stand out like black, navy blue, dark green, bright red and orange, etc. which are mainly dark and intense bright colors. These are attractive to mosquitoes as they retain the warmth by absorbing much heat and provides huge contrast with natural environments.
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What colors do mosquitoes hate?
Mosquitoes generally don’t hate any color but they avoid or attracted to certain other colors that are more appealing to them. The colors that mosquitoes don’t find appealing and they avoid are white, light colors and pastel shades.
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Are mosquitoes attracted to black?
Yes mosquitoes are attracted to black as it is highly contrasting with any natural background. It absorbs most of the heat and appears similar to their hosts with similar higher heat wavelengths and therefore seems to be the most appealing target. Thus, wearing black or dark colored clothing will make you more appealing and noticeable to mosquitoes.
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What colors mosquitoes avoid?
Mosquitoes generally avoid colors that reflects most of the light and are cooler than intense warm colors. These includes white, cream, beige, fawn, soft pink, mint green, light grey, sky blue, etc. These shades absorb less heat and reflects most of the light, making you less visible to mosquitoes.
