Mosquitos and colours

[237SJ]

Is there any scientific proof that mosquitoes are attracted to blue? I thought that the reason that windows are painted blue in some countries is that the colour repels mosquitoes. However, my Mum went to her doctor the other day because she was bitten by a mosquito (in the UK) on her arm where she doesn`t have any lymph nodes. The doctor asked her if she had any Lavender outside her door (which she does). He said that mozzies are attracted to the colour blue. I`m wondering if he has a point. He`s Indian and I have spent quite a lot of time time on the Indian subcontinent and I wonder if he has a point. I remember sitting in the hallway of a B&B in Sri Lanka at dawn and a mozzie flew past my friend on his way to get to me. I was wearing pale blue trousers and he bit me though my trousers. Why did the mozzie pick me?

[heathfield]

I've worked extensively in the tropics and Wildwood's link gives good advice. Incidentally, if you hear a mosquito, don't bother chasing it down - it's a male, and they don't bite. Only the females bite, and they all fly silently. Avon 'Skin So Soft' Woodland Bath Oil is one of the very best repellants. Smells nice and doesn't melt plastics like Deet does!

[LoftyLottie]

I know wasps like my dress which is predominately blue with mottled effect brown and black. I daren't site outside in in.

[sallybb]

horseflies love yellow

[boxtops]

I can't say why, but I do know that I was never ever bitten until I had my hysterectomy, after that the little perishers won't leave me alone. My mother had a theory that the quality of my blood improved after the op :-)

On the rare occasions they bite OH, it never swells, just stays a little dot. Me, if I don't zap it straight away with AfterBite, it can go quite nasty.