4 Colors To Avoid Wearing In Iowa Unless You Love Mosquitoes

It's warming up and that means everyone's favorite bug is hanging out with us again.

Mosquitoes are such fun, aren't they? My hometown has huge (and tons of) mosquitoes since it's surrounded by standing water in fields. I've lost count how many of the bugs I've squished in my life. We do everything to try to make them go away: citronella candles, nets, anything to keep them out of our backyard barbecue.

One extra step you probably didn't think to take to help prevent mosquitoes is what color you're wearing. A study shows that mosquitoes really love and really hate certain color clothes.

4 Colors Mosquitoes Love

Mosquitoes have an affinity for 4 particular colors. Experts say that they act as a "signal" to their eyes when combined with the pigmentation of human skin (which emits a red-orange glow to them, regardless of skin color).

1. Red

2. Orange

3. Black

(and this is very specific) 4. Cyan

As someone who has a closet that's 95% black or dark clothing, I may need to reassess my options. Will you for sure get bit in any of those? No. But if you're going somewhere you know mosquitoes are likely, it's something to remember.

4 Colors Mosquitoes Don't Like

Just as they love some parts of the color wheel, there are other ones that researchers say they ignore.

1. Green

2. Purple

3. Blue

4. White

Will wearing any of those colors guarantee that you won't get bit? Obviously not, I've definitely been bit in a white teeshirt. It just makes it less likely because of the way that the mosquitoes see and process colors.