Color: A Better Outdoor Bird and Bug Repellent

Nothing can spoil a pleasant afternoon lounging on your porch or deck than a flock of unruly birds or a swarm of insects. Whether you're eating or enjoying a cold drink, it's a chore to get rid of either of these disruptive species.

Before you spend large amounts of time and money on deterrents, think about the color of your outdoor living space. Did you know several colors naturally attract birds and bugs?

Here's a breakdown of their color likes and dislikes:

Birds

Birds rely heavily on their ability to see colors - from finding a mate to picking the ripest berries. Bright colors tend to attract a variety of birds, including blue jays, hummingbirds, orioles, warbles and goldfinches.

Even darker grays, browns and dull greens are likely to attract birds with cautions temperaments like quail, doves and ground feeders. These colors comfort birds, and create a feeling of safety.

One color that the majority of birds avoid is white. A dull or bright white signals alarm and danger to birds, causing them to avoid those areas.

Bugs

Bugs see color slightly different than birds - bugs see color in the UV spectrum.

In nature, bugs are attracted to brightly colored flowers as they are commonly a source for food. The same is true for your porch or deck, minus the food part. Bugs are naturally attracted to bright colors like white, yellow or orange.

Colors like green and blue won't register as vividly when seen in the UV spectrum, deterring bugs away from these colored objects.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are a special kind of problem, so they get their own category apart from regular, friendly bugs.

Mosquitoes see dark colors more easily, which is why you always hear it's a good idea to wear light colors to avoid the pests. Same is true for your outdoor design. Bright colors, such as whites and yellows, are more likely to deter mosquitoes than dark hues.