What You Eat May Be Attracting Indiana Mosquitoes

You might want to put some thought into what you're eating because it could make you a mosquito magnet during this hot Indiana summer.

I don't know about you, but I always have a BAD mosquito problem in my yard. I can't even walk outside for two minutes without having to swat those pests away. It's a nuisance that nobody wants to deal with. Nobody in my family has been able to go outside without getting eaten up this summer. If you feel like mosquitoes have been much worse in Indiana this year, it isn't your imagination. That's a result of all the heat and humidity we have gotten. This type of weather is what mosquitoes thrive in!

a close up of a mosquito on a human's skin

If you find that you have a bad mosquito problem, there are a few things that you can do to keep them away. Did you know that the color of the clothes you are wearing can attract mosquitoes, while others tend to have a more repelling effect? It's true. You can learn more about that by clicking here. We also have a couple of hacks that you can try to keep mosquitoes away. These include a DIY mosquito trap idea that you can try out, changing your body soap could keep mosquitoes away, as well as a DIY beer mosquito repellent. However, there is yet another thing that you might be doing that is attracting mosquitoes that you probably never thought about before.

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Your Food Might Be Attracting Mosquitoes To You

Yep. Who would have thought that what you eat and drink is actually causing you to become a mosquito magnet? According to an article by Food & Wine, research has found a link between certain foods (and drinks) and how much mosquitoes are drawn in. Now, it's important to note that there's still some work to be done in terms of research on mosquitoes and food, but here's what we know for sure.

Foods That Attract Mosquitoes

• Stinky Cheeses- Mosquitoes are attracted to carboxylic acids produced by bacteria on our skin. As it turns out, carboxylic acids include butyric acid, a compound found in “stinky” cheeses like Limburger.
• Sweets and Floral-Scented Foods- Floral scents produced by nectar-producing plants are a favorite among mosquitoes. So, anything floral could have them heading your way. This applies to drinks too.
• Bananas- A study found people were more likely to get bitten after eating a banana than after eating grapes.
• Beer- At least two studies have found you're more likely to get bitten after drinking beer.

photography of person holding glass bottles during sunset

Foods That Repel Mosquitoes

• Foods with Sweet Basil, Sage, and Rosemary- Mosquitoes aren't too fond of people with high concentrations of eucalyptol on their skin. Eucalyptol is an aromatic compound found in sweet basil, sage, rosemary, and cardamom.
• Garlic and Onions- While you might have some stanky breath, foods with garlic and onions will help keep mosquitoes away and lower your risk of malaria due to a compound called allicin that is found in both foods.
• Grapefruit- Grapefruit contains a compound called nootkatone, and studies have found that it was effective at repelling mosquitoes at a rate comparable to DEET or picaridin.

a woman is holding a knife in her hand

So there you have it; keep this in mind if you plan to eat before you go outside or even on your next picnic. With all of the tips to help keep mosquitoes away from you in this article, surely some of these will help!