8 Common Questions about Mosquitoes and Ticks

Mosquitoes use multiple cues to find hosts, including carbon dioxide from breath, body heat, sweat, skin bacteria, and visual contrast from dark clothing. Your overall "mosquito signal" from these combined factors determines attractiveness, not any single trait.

Both are EPA-registered and effective against mosquitoes and ticks. DEET can affect synthetic materials and plastics. Picaridin offers a non-greasy, fragrance-free feel and doesn’t damage gear.

DEET is one of the most thoroughly studied insect repellent ingredients available. The EPA has concluded that DEET products can be used by adults and children according to label directions. Higher concentrations (e.g., 40% vs. 25%) generally provide longer-lasting protection, not stronger or better protection.

Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic response that can develop after certain tick bites, most commonly from lone star ticks in the U.S. Unlike bacterial tick-borne diseases, it causes allergic reactions to red meat. There is currently no approved vaccine or cure.

Ticks typically need at least 24 hours of attachment before transmitting the Lyme disease bacteria. This is why prompt tick checks after outdoor activity are so valuable for prevention.

Yes. Mosquitoes don't inject one person's blood into the next person they bite, but when a mosquito feeds on blood, it also swallows any viruses or parasites in the blood. The mosquito then digests the blood meal and over the next several days, these pathogens move to where they can be transferred to the next person the mosquito bites through its saliva. Any disease that is spread in this way from mosquito to human, or animal, is known as a 'mosquito-borne disease'. Common types of mosquito-borne diseases are West Nile virus, Dengue, and Zika.

Some plant-derived ingredients like oil of lemon eucalyptus are used in EPA-registered repellents and have undergone efficacy testing. However, not all essential oils perform equally and the CDC recommendation is to choose EPA-registered products to ensure proven protection.

Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed (flowerpots, gutters, birdbaths), use area repellent products, and increase airflow with fans around outdoor seating areas. Mosquitoes can develop in as little as one tablespoon of water.