Can Mosquitoes Bite Through Clothes?

Can you get mosquito bites through clothes? The simple answer is yes; mosquitoes will bite through clothing. However, only if the attire is tight fitting with a loose weave. More often than not, a mosquito will go after skin that is not covered by clothing.

So if you have insect bites under your clothes, it’s likely that the clothing was tight fitting and had a loose weave. To prevent mosquito bites through clothes, you should wear multi-layered, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing with a tight weave.

Another tactic is to wear multiple layers; a mosquito cannot bite through numerous layers of clothing, especially if one of the layers is baggy. And, of course, always apply insect repellent to exposed skin!

Can Mosquitoes Bite Through Clothes?

can mosquitoes bite through clothes?

Mosquitoes can bite through clothes when they are tight-fitting, 100% cotton, or a mesh type of clothing. Any clothing material has the potential to allow a mosquito’s needle-like proboscis to pierce through and get to your skin. So, if you have no signs of bed bugs but have bites, then it may very well be mosquitoes.

With outdoor dining happening more now than ever, people are getting mosquito bites on their legs underneath the dining table. When NYC outdoor dining began ramping up, during the pandemic, many of our clients were wondering if they had fleas vs bed bugs.

Wearing looser clothing, lighter colors, or long sleeves/pants will help protect you from mosquito bites. However, they won’t prevent mosquitoes from biting you. Applying insect repellent is always the best defense against mosquitoes!

Can A Mosquito Bite Under Clothes?

Yes, a mosquito can bite under clothes if one happens to get caught under your clothing. For example, if you wear a loose dress, and a mosquito gets trapped underneath, it will surely try to bite you.

The best way to prevent mosquito bites under clothes is by wearing well-fitted clothing in layers. Another good strategy is to tuck your pant legs into your socks and your shirt into your pants. Tucking will create a barrier that will make it much harder for mosquitoes to get to your skin.

Can A Mosquito Bite Through Jeans?

Yes, although jeans are usually dense enough weave, a mosquito will have trouble biting through them. So for this reason, it will not be easy for a mosquito to bite through jeans, so more than likely, you won’t get many mosquito bites on your legs if you wear jeans.

The best way to mitigate mosquito bites when wearing jeans is by ensuring that your shirt is tucked into your pants and applying insect repellent to any exposed skin.

Can A Mosquito Bite Through Leather?

No, mosquitoes cannot bite through the leather. The pores in leather are too tiny for a mosquito’s proboscis to fit through.

So if you are wearing leather shoes, a leather jacket, or any other type of leather clothing, you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes biting you through the material. The only way a mosquito could bite you while wearing leather is if it somehow gets trapped underneath the clothing and then bites you through a hole or gap in the leather.

Can Mosquitoes Bite Through Socks?

Yes, mosquitoes can bite through socks. I can’t count how often I was at an outdoor dining table, and my ankles got eaten alive by mosquitoes, even though I was wearing socks! The mosquitoes must have bitten me through my socks.

To prevent mosquito bites through socks, you should wear socks made of a tighter weave material, such as wool. Definitely tuck your pant legs into your socks to create a layered barrier between your skin and the mosquitoes.

And, of course, don’t forget to apply insect repellent to any exposed skin! Mosquitoes prefer to bite where they have easy access.

up close of Mosquito filling up on blood (Can a mosquito bite through clothing?)

Can Mosquitoes Bite Through Blankets?

If a thin sheet only covers you, then a mosquito can potentially bite through the blanket. However, if you are using a thicker comforter or quilt, then it is doubtful that a mosquito will be able to feed through the material.

The best way to prevent mosquito bites when sleeping under a blanket is to ensure that you don’t have any exposed skin. You can tuck the blanket around you so that there are no gaps for mosquitoes to get through.

However, if you are getting mosquito bites in bed, the mosquito probably found its way underneath your blanket. Make sure all of your windows have screens. People in NYC hire us (Doctor Sniffs) for pest inspections because they are getting bites.

I often find that they have a window open with either no screen or a screen with holes. If you are wondering whether your bites are from mosquitoes or bed bugs, first take a look at all of your screens.

A List of Bugs That Can Bite Through Clothes

Many bugs can bite through clothes. Luckily bed bugs are not one of the bugs that bite through clothing. So if you are waking up with a lot of bites only under apparel, then you can probably rule out bed bugs.

Biting midges (no-see-ums)

At only 3mm or less in size, a biting midge can penetrate through clothing that is a loose weave fabric. The no-see-ums would not be able to bite through jeans, but a cotton sock would be easy for them. These are often one of the common black bugs that look like a flea.

Bees

A bee can sting you through clothing, which is why most beekeepers have multiple layers of protection.

Chiggers

Chiggers are in the mite family and attach to our clothing and can quickly get through a tight-fitting pair of leggings. A chigger will latch onto your clothing and begin to migrate to your skin. If you are worried about chiggers in your bed, don’t get too concerned. They can’t survive long in a bed.

Ticks

Ticks can only bite through clothes if the fabric is extremely thin. However, you can pick up ticks on your clothing, and they can easily crawl to your skin.

Horse flies

Horse fly bites are painful; unfortunately, they can bite through thin or tight-fitting clothing. To prevent horsefly bites, wear loose-fitting clothing and avoid areas with many horseflies.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can bite through clothing and chew through socks and thin clothing. The best way to avoid mosquito bites is by wearing multiple layers. Ensure that your shirt is tucked into your pants, and apply insect repellent to any exposed skin.

Many different mosquito types are quite aggressive when it comes to getting a blood meal, so they will find a way!

Wasps

Similar to bees, wasps can sting you through clothing. If you are allergic to wasp stings, you should avoid areas with a lot of wasps.

What Are Some Types of Clothing That Mosquitoes Can’t Bite Through?

You can go the extreme and get a mosquito repellent jacket like the Aventik. Using something like this is great if you go into a known mosquito-infested area. However, if you don’t want to buy a jacket, just use multiple layers of clothing. Make sure to tuck your shirt into your pants, and wear socks over your pants.

Another pro tip is to use a repellent like a eucalyptus oil, lemon, cedar, or citronella on your clothing. The repellents will act as a barrier for mosquitoes, preventing them from being able to bite through your clothes.

Types of clothing that mosquitoes can’t bite through:

-Tightly woven fabrics such as jeans

-Thick materials such as leather

-Clothing that is treated with mosquito repellent

-Multiple layers of clothing

What Are Mosquito Proof Clothes?

There is clothing out there with mosquito repellent built into the design. You can usually wash these up to 50 times, and the mosquito repellent will still be effective. The best part is that no chemicals are involved, so it is entirely safe for humans and the environment.

Insect Xtreme Performance Outdoor Shirt with Repelling Technology (Blue, Small)
  • FULL-SPECTRUM INSECT PROTECTION: Whether it’s ticks, flies, no-see-ums, mosquitoes, ants, chiggers or midges, our unique microencapsulated insect repellent is powerful enough to convince them that anywhere would be better than bugging you. Protect yourself without the need to continually douse yourself with bug spray.
  • STANDS THE TEST OF TIME: This Insect Xtreme insect repellent hiking shirt can be washed up to 50 times while maintaining superior insect protection. When you’re ready, just throw it in the washing machine and you’ll be bug-free next time you go out. Do not dry-clean.

If you don’t want to buy clothing with mosquito repellent built-in, you can also treat your clothes with a mosquito repellent spray. Many different brands of mosquito repellent clothing are available, but we like the nontoxic ones with lemon and eucalyptus oils.

Final Thoughts for “Can Mosquitoes Bite Through Clothes?”

So can mosquitoes bite through clothes? As you can see, there are a variety of clothing materials that mosquitoes can bite through. The easiest and most effective way to prevent mosquito bites is by wearing layered and loose-fitting clothing. Another preventive measure involves putting mosquito repellent on before going outside.


For Further Reading on Fleas and Other Pests, Check Out These Interesting Articles

Can Fleas Fly? Learn all about whether or not fleas jump or crawl.

Fleas can be one of the small brown bugs in your bed that are not bed bugs.

What Do Early Bed Bug Stains on Sheets Look Like? (Lots of photos)