Can Mosquitoes Bite Through Clothes?

When it comes to mosquito bites, covering up isn’t always enough. Mosquito bites seem to appear out of nowhere sometimes – you may have woken up with new mosquito bites or noticed a few after spending the day in all long sleeves, and wondered, “where are all these bites coming from?” How are mosquitoes able to bite us all over our bodies?

Can A Mosquito Bite Through Clothing?

Many of us have asked this question at one point or another, and unfortunately, the answer is yes, mosquitoes can bite through clothes. You might see a mosquito land on your shirt and think it doesn’t have a chance, but mosquitoes are actually able to bite us through the fabric of most kinds of clothing that we wear. This is because mosquitoes have a needle-like proboscis that puts the expression “paper-thin” to the test.

A mosquito’s proboscis is a compacted system of long, pointed tubes extending from its face in place of a mouth. This is the device that a mosquito uses to pierce our skin, draw our blood, and exchange it with saliva and chemicals. Being as thin as it is, a mosquito’s proboscis can reach our skin through many kinds of fabrics, including:

• Cotton
• Linen
• Spandex
• Silk
• Rayon, and more

Mosquitoes are even capable of biting through thicker materials like denim, but will usually choose not to in search of an easier site to draw blood.

Mosquito Proof Clothing

Some people are under the impression that mosquitoes won’t be able to bite through leggings or yoga pants, but these are actually even easier for mosquitoes to get through because of how close they are to the skin. The mosquito already has no trouble getting past the material, so you’ve effectively given them easy access.

So what can you wear to prevent mosquito bites? Here are three steps you can take to limit your mosquito bite count this summer:

1. Choose tightly-woven fabrics, like nylon, corduroy, or polyester. Although these might not be the perfect choices for warmer temperatures, clothes with very close weaves are a deterrent to mosquitoes, and they will likely try to bite you elsewhere or find a different host.
2. Wear loose-fitting clothing. Wearing a long sleeve shirt or jeans that fit baggier puts the material of your clothing further away from the skin and gives the mosquito a lesser chance of finding the right spot to bite.
3. Apply insect repellent to your clothes. Products like DEET can be sprayed directly onto your clothing to ward off pests. Make sure to only use your chosen product as is recommended by the manufacturer.

Best Way to Repel Mosquitoes

When you feel like you’ve tried everything, and you’re still being bitten, it’s time to contact your local mosquito extermination experts. Your problem might be the sheer volume of mosquitoes in your area, so a professional pest control specialist can come assess your yard to eliminate mosquito attractants, like standing water. Contact us at Active Pest Control today for a free quote!