Summer officially points to his nose, and it’s time to brave everything that accompanies this season, including hungry mosquitoes.
With their buzzing recognizable among a thousand and their irritating bites, mosquitoes are among the most formidable disadvantages of the hot season. Mosquito bites are generally considered a simple inconvenience, but these insects can also carry potentially fatal diseases, such as malaria, zika virus or dengue. The bites can sometimes cause severe symptoms such as inflammation, rashes and nausea.
In order not to fix anything, certain species of mosquitoes move towards new territories due to climate change and human activities, hence the importance of being aware of its interactions with these insects.
Fortunately, the researchers have made great progress in understanding what attracts certain mosquito species to humans and the way of pushing them as well as possible. Here are practical tips to avoid mosquito bites, whether you are at home or traveling.
To limit mosquito bites, it is necessary to know a little more about this insect sucking blood and on the reasons why some of them are first looking for humans.
“There are around 3,500 species of mosquitoes, but only a few pose an important problem for humans,” writes in an email Dina Fonseca, professor and molecular ecologist at Rutgers University, which studies ticks and mosquitoes. “The many mosquito species have different preferences for groups of species such as mammals, reptiles and birds”. Some even feed on the blood of leeches, she adds.
The mosquitoes that have evolved to suck humans’ blood can feel our warmth and carbon dioxide that we exhale, and choose their favorite hosts according to their body odor. If you are one of the people that mosquitoes always seem to target, you are not crazy: some humans feel better for mosquitoes than others. It is worth adopting additional precautions if you think you have the distinction of being the favorite dish of mosquitoes.
Regarding skin repellents, nothing beats the products containing a chemical called deet (N, N-Dietthyl-3-Méthylbenzamide). The Deet repels a multitude of insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and leeches.
“The Deet remains the best solution because it covers most of the olfactory receivers, blurring the smell of mosquitoes, and its effects are durable,” explains Fonseca. The duration The protection depends on the concentration of Deet in the repellent. This information is on the product label.
The DEET can be used safely on children and adults, provided it is applied in accordance with product instructions. You should never inhale or swallow products containing deet, because this chemical can be fatal if it is ingested. In rare cases, people have had skin reactions, including eruptions or itching, after using products containing deet. If you have a reaction, you should “stop using the product, wash the treated skin and call your local anti -poison center or your doctor to get help”.
Other current repellents, such as lemony eucalyptus oil or lemongrass, can also be effective. Each repellent interacts differently with your body smell, which is why it is worth experimenting with some products to find the one that suits you best.
The exhibition to mosquitoes depends on the time of day and season. It is therefore useful to know when species are the most active in your region by contacting your local mosquito control program.
“Mosquitoes are generally active in twilight and dawn, although this varies depending on the species and the region in which you are. Avoiding to be outside during these periods allows you to reduce mosquito bites, “writes Silvie Huijben, an associate professor at the State University of Arizona, specializing in the evolutionary biology of mosquitoes and their pathogens.
Your wardrobe can also reduce the number of bites. White or clear clothes can help to keep insects away, especially if you cover most of your skin.
In addition, mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors, such as black, navy or red, than by lighter colors. Scientists have proposed many hypotheses to explain this preference: mosquitoes could associate these colors with their preference for dark and shaded environments, and red, in particular, is the color that their eyes perceive on all the nuances of human skin.
Mosquito nets are also an essential element of the tool kit to avoid mosquitoes. Mosquito nets impregnated with insecticides can withstand many washes, specifies Fonseca, just like clothes treated with a repellent. Install a mosquito net around your tent if you camp, and equip your doors and windows with mosquito nets or screens to prevent insects from entering your home.
Protecting your body from insects is not enough, it is also necessary to prevent them from multiplying near you. Any form of stagnant water can promote the proliferation of mosquitoes. It is therefore necessary to avoid letting water stagnate for long periods in your course or your garden.
“The most prosperous places for the reproduction of mosquitoes in backyards and gardens are flower bins, buckets or rain tanks filled with water, abandoned toys that collect rainwater or irrigation, out of use car tires and pools for dogs or children,” explains Huijben. “But mosquitoes can reproduce anywhere, we even found them in ladhed toilet bowls!” »»
“Sometimes it is impossible to get rid of these sources of water,” she adds. “In this case, they can be woven, cover them or, if necessary, add a biological control of the larvae. »»
To encourage people to find out more about these environmental factors, Huijben has created an interactive game called “Epic Mosquito Quest”, which includes advice on the fight against mosquitoes in neighborhoods.
When you return from travel, you should take additional precautions. If you have contracted an infectious disease abroad, even if you do not have symptoms, mosquitoes in the region could transmit it if you were pricked.
It is also recommended that you immediately consult a care provider and share your travel history if you have symptoms afterwards, including fever, headache, muscle and joint pain or rash.
Whatever your projects for the weeks and months to come, be sure to integrate a strategy to reduce your contact with mosquitoes. These insects are abundant and very adaptable, but by adopting the right approach, you can stay at a good distance, or at least get stuck during the summer.
