Can You See Mosquitoes With a Black Light?
WouterUsing a black light to keep mosquitoes away from your house may seem like a good idea. However, it is not without its limitations. As an example, the light is not as effective at attracting biting insects as the traditional incandescent light.
If you are looking to keep mosquitoes from biting you, you may want to switch to LED lights. These types of bulbs put off less heat than the traditional incandescent bulb. Also, entomologists have found that the blue hue of these bulbs is less appealing to mosquitoes.
However, some LEDs do not have the blue hue. For this reason, yellow is a better choice for mosquito deterrents.
This is because mosquitoes cannot see far into the UV spectrum. Instead, they are attracted to the warmer wavelengths.
One study conducted by a team from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine found that night-biting mosquitoes are attracted to different colors of light. The highest percentage of mosquitoes collected was the Aedes aegypti. These were found during 36 nights of trapping in the wet and dry seasons.
Other studies have shown that male mosquitoes will hide in the dark, so if you have a light source that is too close to you, you are likely to get bitten. In addition, a UV-light source is a natural deterrent to mosquitoes.
In addition to this, you can use citronella essential oil as a mosquito repellent. This can be an effective solution.
