Mosquitoes thrive in humid, wet weather, which is why, if you live on the East Coast, you’ve probably swatted away more bugs than usual this summer. And its only going to get worse.
"We're going to see this explosion ... of really, really big mosquitoes, especially in the Southeast," said Paul Walsh of The Weather Channel.
Heavier-than-normal rainfall and a late break to summer has been providing ideal conditions for mosquito breeding, according to Walsh.
"What mosquitoes really like is lots and lots of standing water and warm, humid air," Walsh said on "Big Data Download."
A few things to keep in mind to avoid being bitten while enjoying dinner al fresco: cover up, use insect repellent and since mosquitoes use their eyesight to spot a target, avoid bright or dark clothes. And stand still; the critters are tracking your every move.
Mosquitoes also search for scents coming from your skin or breath to mark a good landing spot.
A few other interesting facts about why some people get mistaken for fast food came from a study conducted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine -- National Institutes of Health. The study found drinking alcohol stimulates mosquito attraction and people with Type O blood get bitten almost twice as often as those with Type A blood.
Walsh said there is a silver lining to all of this information, there should be increased sales of insect repellants. Companies such as S.C. Johnson, the maker of Off! bug spray and stores such as Home Depot (HD) and Lowe’s (LOW) will see a huge increase in sales across the South and Northeast.
About 40 percent of the variation in sales can be tied to the weather. “It’s a big factor in driving demand and this year we have a big weather benefit to the [consumer product group] but not for those us that like to jog and drink beer outside,” said Walsh. VIDEO
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