Why Do Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears?

Do really mosquitoes buzz in peoples ears?

Not actually, they mostly buzz around the head region and around the neck which are the two main sweating points of the human body. All humans perspire and releases sweat, which attracts mosquitoes around them.

And since, the ear is located in between these two regions and being one and only our sensory organ that hears sound, we feel that the mosquitoes are buzzing around our ears.

Why do mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears?

The mosquitoes buzzing is a biological phenomena and for understanding that, we need to look at mosquito’s biology, their sensory perceptions and signals that helps them to navigate and locate their hosts, and factors that attracts mosquitoes.

The following are some of the reasons why actually mosquitoes buzz:

1. Mosquitoes attraction to human body odor and carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the main source of attraction that we exhale while breathing. When we exhale the carbon dioxide it forms a cloud and spread to a long distance and the mosquitoes with their special receptors called maxillary palps, quickly scan any variation in carbon dioxide levels in the air.

This is how they find a trail of human presence through special senses and locate their hosts. After sensing they locate and approach the hosts and start hovering around their head.

The mosquitoes are also attracted towards other emissions from human bodies like lactic acid, body heat and body odor, when they perspire or sweat. As they have highly evolved sensory systems with antennae equipped with olfactory receptors, they can easily detect carbon dioxide, body heat, body odor and other chemical emissions.

These emissions along with carbon dioxide acts as sensory signals and attracts mosquitoes around our head which becomes the prime target. We have written a detailed article on – What foods to eat to keep mosquitoes away, must read for you.

And therefore, we feel that mosquitoes are buzzing around our ears, but actually they target all body parts that have skin exposed like our head, hands and forearms, legs, etc.

2. Extremely high wingbeat frequency

The mosquitoes are known for their quick and active reflexes, along with stationary flights which is mainly due to its unusual flight behavior and aerodynamic features. The mosquitoes generally flap their wings back and forth at a frequency of around 800 beats per second (300 to 600 beats per second for female mosquitoes and up to 1000 beats per second for male mosquitoes).

This extreme wingbeat frequency creates a buzzing noise from mosquitoes. Which gets amplified when they are closed to our ears specially in quiet rooms and spaces, while hovering around our head looking for an opportunity to land and bite for a blood meal. The region where they hover is a sensitive area from where our ears can pick up sound more quickly.

3. Mosquito mating behavior

The female mosquitoes are responsible for biting humans while the male mosquitoes are harmless, they do not need blood meals. Now, these female mosquitoes use their wingbeats to communicate with male mosquitoes for mating.

The male mosquitoes than try to match their own wing beat frequency with the potential mating partner, which is called harmonic convergence where male mosquitoes locate female ones for mating.

This is also another reason why we hear buzzing sound. And since the female mosquitoes hover near their human target proximity, they invite male mosquitoes through wing beats.

4. Gender specific

The sounds of wing beat from female mosquitoes has higher pitch, as compared to male mosquitoes which although has even higher wing beat frequency. This mainly because they want to communicate with potential male partners for mating.

And since they prefer to be around the human proximity for attempting bite, the female mosquitoes never leave human surrounding. While the male mosquitoes which feeds mainly on nectar and plant juices, they do not need to target or approach humans.

How do I stop mosquitoes from buzzing in my ears

The following methods and techniques are effective in keeping mosquitoes away:

1. Use mosquito repellents

Mosquito repellents creates a barrier and also interferes with the smelling sense of mosquitoes. These commercials mosquito repellents are available in different forms like:

• lotions, creams or ointments,
• mosquito repellent sprays,
• anti-mosquito coils or sticks,
• liquid for diffusers,

These are all made using DEET, picaridin, pyrethrin, etc. along with many natural essential oil based ingredients.

2. Protective clothing and gears

Whenever you are going outdoors especially in mosquito laden areas, you should wear protective clothing like mosquito repelling jackets, head nets, anti-mosquito bracelets, etc. Mosquito repellent treated protective clothing are advance functional clothing to keep mosquitoes at bay.

3. Use mosquito nets

You can use mosquito nets for beds, patio, porch, doors and windows, balcony sliding nets, hammocks with mosquito nets for outdoor camping, etc.

The mosquito nets are the best option to stay protected indoors or even outdoors. Its a chemical free and odor free method for mosquito protection. The net provides easy air flow and restricts mosquitoes.

There are no chemical vapors which harms the babies. No use of essential oils that are potentially dangerous for your pet cats and dogs. It improves quality of sleep without any disturbance.

Therefore, using mosquito nets is more convenient, cost-effective and reliable method for keeping mosquitoes at bay.

4. Wear light colored clothing

It is said that mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors. Dark colored clothes especially navy, maroon and black, traps heat released from our body and makes us to sweat more. This increases the amount of body heat, body odor and carbon dioxide levels around us and is easily detectable by mosquitoes.

Always wear light colored clothes specially in evening or night time to avoid attracting mosquitoes to some extent.

5. Use essential oil in diffusers

We can use essential oil like citronella/lemongrass, eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, etc. It is a natural way of keeping mosquitoes away. Can be used few drops of essential oil in a diffuser to keep mosquitoes away for 3 to 4 hrs.

6. Grow mosquito repellent plants

There are indoor mosquito repellent plants that can be placed or hanged inside the rooms, near balconies, doorways and outdoor spaces to restrict entry of mosquitoes inside your home.

Not completely reliable but a natural way of repelling mosquitoes that also improves the aesthetics of your rooms and walls, along with pleasant smell.

7. Install high speed fans

Mosquitoes are very weak and tiny insects, that can be easily blow away with the help of strong currents of air. Install high speed fans which will make them difficult to navigate around and will disrupt their flight patterns.

Also, the carbon dioxide levels, human body heat and odor emissions will be deflected and dispersed which will be difficult for mosquitoes to detect and locate their hosts.

8. Use mosquito bats, mosquito traps, ultrasound repellers, zappers etc.

You can use advance repellers and traps that are chemical free and cost effective. They are not completely reliable but reduce the number of mosquitoes to a great extent without any efforts.

• For small rooms with closed doors and windows, you can use small equipment like a mosquito bat or a zapper that kills mosquitoes instantly.

• There are DIY homemade mosquito traps which uses sugar, with baking soda and vinegar which reacts and releases carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes. Some homemade traps uses sugar and yeast which also releases carbon dioxide. These are not that effective and reliable and requires extra efforts.

• There are vacuum based mosquito traps which sucks mosquitoes, and also there are UV based zappers, all are commercially available and effective to great extent.

Why there is more mosquito buzzing in ear at night?

Do you know, why do mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears at night? Because the mosquitoes are crepuscular insects, means they are active from evening to early morning, from dusk to dawn. These crepuscular nature of mosquitoes makes them highly active in evening and night times.

Also, they are physically not strong enough to withstand day light. They get dehydrated and die if they spend sufficiently longer time in hot sunlight. They cannot withstand dry humid climates during day time.

Therefore, they hide themselves in moist and dark areas like dense vegetation, garage, border areas of a pond, tree holes, bathroom and toilets, etc. and become active at night. The peak activity starts from early evening hours when they start the struggle to find blood meals.

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