You’ve been outdoors and followed suggestions to wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to avoid mosquito bites. But now, you’re feeling itchy, and when you check, you find bites in spots that were covered by clothes. That can’t be right: Can mosquitoes bite through clothes?
Yes, they can. Depending on what you wear, you can be tagged by a determined mosquito. For the hows and whys, and a few tips on how to protect yourself, read on.
Make sure to read our firsthand experience so you’ll learn how not to become a mosquito’s hors d’oeuvre.
How Mosquitoes Bite
More than 200 species of mosquito live in the U.S. and territories, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). While both males and females feed on plant nectar, female mosquitoes are also out for your blood; they need the protein to produce eggs.
A mosquito’s mouth (called a proboscis) isn’t one spear, but six. These mouthparts have specialized jobs: some pierce the skin, others find a blood vessel, others bite to take your blood and add a squirt of saliva — that introduces an anticoagulant to keep your blood from clotting.
So, How Did the Mosquito Bite Through My Clothes?
While a mosquito might prefer bare skin, it will easily bite through certain fabrics. Thin, tight-fitting clothing with spandex (think leggings and yoga pants), or very loosely woven fabrics (such as gauze or some cottons), can be easily pierced.
Firsthand Experience: I Was The Hors d’oeuvre
On a summer day, I decided to work out in the garden. I put on a long-sleeved tee shirt and thick leggings to shield myself from mosquitoes. I worked outside for about two hours, and since I didn’t feel any itching from bites, I assumed I was completely protected.
However, to my surprise, the mosquitoes had bitten through my clothing, and I ended up being the mosquito’s hors d’oeuvre, with about 20 mosquito bites all over my body. I was so frustrated and annoyed with the situation. I had to apply some anti-itch cream to soothe the bites.
What did I learn from that experience? Well, for one thing, wearing leggings to garden is not a good idea as mosquitoes can easily bite through them. A better option would have been loose pants to prevent mosquito bites. Secondly, adding insect repellent to clothing and/or skin in addition to loose-fitting clothing can be a double-whammy of protection during mosquito season.
Since then, I have made it a habit to wear loose-fitting clothes that cover most of my skin and use insect repellent whenever I go outside during mosquito season. You can learn from my mistakes so you don’t become a mosquito’s hors d’oeuvre.
What Are The Health Risks of Mosquito Bites?
Most mosquitoes in the United States are “nuisance mosquitoes.” Their bites will leave you with itchy bumps — your body’s immune response to the insect’s saliva. (Though the reaction can be more severe for those who are allergic.) However, 12 types can carry viruses or parasites that can infect humans and animals. The most common are:
- Aedes species mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti)
- Culex species mosquitoes (Cx. pipiens, Cx. tarsalis, Cx. quinquefasciatus)
- Anopheles species mosquitoes (An. freeborni and An. quadrimaculatus)
Diseases spread by mosquitoes include:
- Chikungunya
- Dengue fever
- West Nile virus
- Zika virus
- Malaria (Most U.S. cases are in those who traveled outside the country.)
- St. Louis encephalitis
Are My Pets at Risk from Mosquito Bites?
Mosquitoes aren’t picky about where they get blood: they bite animals, too. And should mosquitoes become infected with a disease or parasite, they can pass them along to your dog, cat, or horse. Among the diseases animals can get from mosquitoes are:
- Heartworm
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis
- West Nile virus
How to Protect Yourself From Mosquito Bites
While it may be impossible to totally escape mosquitoes, experts suggest several ways to prevent mosquito bites:
Use Insect Repellent
Repellents using these EPA-registered ingredients can be effective:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus
- Para-menthane-diol
- 2-undecanone
Tip: To get the most out of mosquito repellents, use them on bare skin (but don’t spray your face, spread it on with your hands). If you use sunscreen, put that on first.
Caution: Be careful in using insect repellents on children. The CDC suggests:
- Don’t use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months.
- Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children younger than 3.
- Apply repellent to your hands, then apply it to a child’s face.
- For very young babies, consider draping mosquito netting over a stroller.
Use caution with repellents around pets. The ASPCA cautions against using products with DEET on pets, and don’t use permethrin on cats. Some flea and tick products for dogs do repel mosquitoes; consult your veterinarian, or check out these 7 best dog mosquito repellents. The best protection is to make sure your pet gets monthly heartworm preventatives.
Avoid Scents
Mosquitoes are attracted to scents, be it your aftershave, cologne, hair products, or lotions. So skip the scented products if you’re going to be outside.
The little vampires are also attracted to the chemicals released when we sweat, according to the Cleveland Clinic. So if you take a run or work in the garden on a warm day, clean up before you take that break on the patio.
Wear Protective Clothing
This brings us back to the original question: Mosquitoes can easily bite you through thin, tightly fitted, or loosely woven clothing. Long pants and long sleeves are still the best defense to reduce mosquito bites, but in hot climates, they can be highly uncomfortable. As a compromise, try:
- Loose-fitting clothing
- Longer shorts (or capris)
- Socks and closed shoes
- Shirts with sleeves (in other words, ditch the tank tops)
Pay attention to the colors you wear. A study published in the February 2022 edition of Nature said that while mosquitoes are attracted to black and red, they don’t respond to these colors:
- Blue
- Green
- Purple
- White
Wear heavier fabrics. You want clothes that will make you hard to bite. A few fabrics that offer protection:
- Denim
- Tight-knit wool
- Nylon ripstop
- Velvet
Another option is to treat your clothing (including boots) with permethrin, a synthetic insect repellent. Or you can buy mosquito-repellent clothing that is treated with permethrin.
Note: If you go the DIY route with permethrin, don’t spray it on your skin; it’s designed for fabrics. And the EPA suggests that permethrin-treated clothing should be washed separately.
Stay Inside When Mosquitoes Are Active
Most mosquitoes tend to be very active around dusk and dawn; they don’t tolerate sun and heat. So, wrap up the yard work before dusk, and apply insect repellent if you plan to attend an outdoor concert or sit on the front porch.
Tip: If you do sit outside, bring a fan: It will create wind to repel mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can’t fly well in windy conditions, nor can they smell the carbon dioxide and lactic acid we send out. If they can’t smell or reach you, they can’t bite.
Keep Mosquitoes Off Your Property
Swatting mosquitoes tends to take the fun out of cookouts at home. A few mosquito control methods will make your yard less hospitable to the little biters. Some tips:
Get rid of standing water. Mosquitoes love standing water. They only need a bottle cap’s worth of water to lay hundreds of eggs. To slow their reproduction, remove potential breeding sites:
- Get rid of old tires and containers.
- Put away toys, garden, or sports equipment that can hold water.
- Cover rain barrels, wading pools, and hot tubs.
- Dump excess water from flower pot saucers.
- Frequently change the water in pets’ bowls and birdbaths (one to two times per week)
- Clean your gutters, and make sure water drains away from the house.
- If there’s a drainage ditch near your yard, clear debris, or report any problems.
- Cut the lawn. Mosquitoes rest in tall grass.
Chemical control: Mosquito foggers, which spray a mist of insecticide over a wide area, may be useful if you plan a large party. This will banish bugs for about 12 hours.
Also, spraying pesticide from a mosquito yard spray along thickets or shrubs will kill any mosquitoes residing there and repel invaders for a few weeks.
Non-chemical control: Plant a few floral or herbal deterrents: they give off scents that mosquitoes hate. Among them:
- Citronella
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Thyme
- Lemongrass
- Eucalyptus
- Catnip
Note: Plants by themselves won’t do much to repel mosquitoes. You’ll need to release their oils by crushing or burning them.
- Crush the leaves of some plants, like lavender, and rub them on your skin.
- Edible plants, like sage and rosemary, can be placed on the grill.
- Chop catnip or lemongrass stems and leaves and spread them around the patio.
Larvicides can be used for water that can’t be drained. Mosquito dunks contain Bti, a natural bacterium that kills mosquito larvae.
Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your House
Mosquitoes aren’t fussy about their surroundings: If they’re inside, they’ll bite when you’re sitting on the couch or when you’re sleeping. To control mosquitoes in your home:
- If possible, keep doors and windows closed and use the air conditioner.
- Check around your house, especially doors and windows, for gaps that mosquitoes can slide through.
- Keep screens in good repair. Tip: If you don’t have screens, you can attach mosquito netting to the window frame.
- Use mosquito traps to catch any bugs that have slipped in.
FAQ
The CDC suggests these methods of treating mosquito bites:
● Wash the area with soap and water.
● An ice pack will reduce swelling and itching: Apply for 10 minutes at a time.
● A baking soda and water mix will help ease itching. Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to create a paste.
● An over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream will help soothe the discomfort, too.
Several mosquito species are considered to be carriers of West Nile Virus:
● Aedes albopictus. Also known as the Asian Tiger Mosquito.
● Culex pipiens. Also known as the Northern House Mosquito. It primarily feeds on birds.
● Culex restuans. Prefers to feed on birds.
● Culex salinarius.
● Ochleratatus triceriatus. Also known as a treehole mosquito.
● Ochleratatus japonicus
No. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, a small amount of DEET is absorbed into the skin when you apply repellent. This amount may increase when you cover that area with clothing, potentially leading to health risks. It’s also a good idea to wash off any repellent when you go inside.
When to Call in a Professional
If you have a mosquito infestation in your yard or home, and DIY methods aren’t working, then contact Pest Gnome, which connects you to the best pest control experts in your area. A local pro has the right tools and methods to banish mosquitoes from your property and to help you keep them away.
Additional sources:
Main Photo Credit: alphaspirit / Canva Pro / License
