My Grandma Taught Me a Trick to Repel Bugs – My Friends Think I’m ‘Ridiculous’
IF you’re more prone to insect bites than your friends, there could be a simple reason.
Someone told about the trick his grandmother used to keep insects away.
Responding to a Reddit afteran anonymous user revealed the reason why bugs target specific people.
They responded to a poster that said they were being “eaten alive” by insects.
“Mosquitoes are mainly attracted to the carbon dioxide you exhale,” they explain.
“[When working outside]you [should] Control your breathing by working slowly and not straining yourself [to avoid getting bitten].”
Read more about insect repellent
In addition to controlling your breathing, it is also important to limit sweat production.
According to the National Institutes of HealthA mosquito’s ability to detect skin odor is directly related to its carbon dioxide uptake.
The Redditor revealed a technique for repelling insects that has been in the family for generations.
“A trick my grandmother taught me was to dip the cloth in water before wrapping it around my neck. That kept me relatively cool,” they said.
“My friends think I look ridiculous, but I never get bitten by insects.”
The poster also suggested adding other scents to the insects to confuse them.
“You can also hide your carbon footprint by covering it with natural insect repellents like mint or basil,” they wrote.
For the best coverage, they recommend growing these aromatic herbs in your flower beds.
The poster also discussed the role of color in attracting insects such as mosquitoes.
A study published in Nature Communications shows that the color of your clothing can affect the number of insect bites you get.
“Mosquitoes are attracted to red and black clothing, with dark colours being more attractive than lighter shades,” they concluded.
The experts compared the effect of carbon dioxide and color on mosquitoes to the enticing smell of baked goods to a human.
“I cover every part of my body when I garden,” the Redditor wrote.
“Over my regular clothes I wear a loose white shirt that is a few sizes too big.”
They added that they tuck their gardening gloves into their shirts and long pants into their socks.
To keep their cooling clothes safe, they opted for a large hat, according to the poster.