Do Mosquitoes Like the Light?
WouterGenerally speaking, mosquitoes do not like light. This is because they do not see light the same way that humans do. They are nocturnal insects and they appear only in the evenings and early mornings.
But some insects do prefer light. Insects such as mosquitoes use light to find prey, to navigate, and for other purposes. They do not hate light, but they do not want to be in the vicinity of it.
When mosquitoes are active, they have a better visual acuity than during the day. They are able to see UV rays from the sun, and blue light. They can also see red and yellow, but these are not favored by mosquitoes. They prefer UV rays that are at a higher level. They are also attracted to UV rays from fluorescent bulbs, which release ultraviolet light.
Mosquitoes have three different sensing mechanisms for finding blood. One of them is a heat sensing receptor in the antenna. They use this to find prey that is active during daylight hours. They also use body odor, daylight, and other cues to find prey.
In addition to heat, they are attracted to carbon dioxide, which is released when a person perspires. Those carbon dioxide odors are also used by female mosquitoes to find prey. The most common color cues for mosquitoes are red, orange, black, and cyan. But they do not like green, blue, or purple hues.
Mosquitoes are also attracted to shiny metallic objects. They think these shiny objects are water.
