How to protect yourself from mosquitoes? The complete guide

This anti-mosquito guide will help you discover all the secrets of this insect in order to avoid unpleasant bites and protect your home.

Mosquito says: young in Thai

"If you know your enemies and you know yourself, a thousand battles cannot overcome you.
Sun Tzu - The Art of War

Description

The mosquito is a dipteran insect feared for its itchy bites.

There are over 3,000 different species of mosquitoes worldwide, all belonging to the family Culicidae.

Getting to know the mosquito better

The life cycle

The mosquito develops from an aquatic larva before metamorphosing into an adult in the air.

The aquatic larval phase helps to explain the high presence of mosquitoes near rivers, ponds and marshes.

In most mosquito species, the larva feeds on microscopic algae in the plankton; rare species have a predatory larva that feeds on other insect larvae.

Once adult, the mosquito feeds exclusively on the nectar of various flowers. Contrary to popular belief, it does not feed on blood.

The mosquito's bite is made only by a fertilized female, and is not intended for feeding, but for the maturation of the eggs before laying.

It should be noted that some rare species of mosquitoes do not require blood for maturation and therefore do not bite.

There is a wide variety of behaviour depending on the species. Some will attack humans, others livestock, birds or reptiles.

It is often said that mosquitoes only bite at night, in fact there are diurnal and nocturnal or crepuscular species.

The idea that mosquitoes only bite at night is probably due to the fact that the most common species in Europe belong to the genera Culex and Aedes, which have nocturnal habits.

Life span of adult mosquitoes

Adult mosquitoes have a life span of 2-3 weeks for males and 1-6 months for overwintering females.

Life span of mosquito eggs

Several years dry for some species of the genus Aedes.

The "tiger mosquito" has colonised all five continents in the last twenty years.

Now considered the invasive species par excellence, the eggs of Aedes albopictus have been transported around the world, notably in tyre containers.

Larval development time

From 3 days to several months depending on the species.

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Some larvae survive in frozen water, frozen in ice.

Diseases transmitted by mosquito bites

The mosquito is the vector of serious diseases, the main ones being:

Malaria

Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquito bites.

It is only present in Thailand in very limited areas, forests and borders.

The vast majority of the country, consisting of plains and rice fields, is untouched by it.

In malaria-affected areas, there is only a risk of transmission at night.

Dengue

Dengue is an endemic disease in Thailand.

A dengue epidemic is currently raging throughout the country, particularly in the north and centre.

The disease is spread by the bite of a mosquito, which is active during the day, so the usual protective measures should be followed (long clothing, mosquito repellents for use on the skin and clothing, electric diffusers).

As dengue fever can be potentially serious, it is strongly recommended that a doctor be consulted in case of fever (aspirin is not recommended).

There is a natural way to treat yourself, see our articles:

Dengue can be treated with papaya leaf juice!

Papaya and its fruit, the papaya, use and medicinal properties

Japanese encephalitis

This disease, which exists only in Asia, is transmitted by mosquitoes in rural areas.

Fortunately, there are very few cases in Thailand, but the risk is there.

The Japanese encephalitis virus is transmitted by the bite of the Culex tritaeniorhynchusa mosquito, which bites only in the evening (at dusk and throughout the night).

Its sting is painful and therefore does not go unnoticed.

Cities are generally spared and disease transmission is greatest in rural areas where mosquitoes swarm, especially during the rainy or monsoon season.

Chikungunya

A viral disease transmitted by the bites of Aedes mosquitoes that bite during the day.

It is responsible for a high fever accompanied by intense joint pain (Swahili: chikungunya = "walking bent").

There is no specific vaccination or treatment.

However, a doctor should be consulted.

Only protective measures against mosquito bites can protect the traveller.

Papaya leaf juice may help according to a Mauritian herbalist, see link above.

Zika

It's the 'hot' disease, with a lot of media attention, but Zika has been around for years in Thailand and usually only causes symptoms of a minor flu.

We must be careful with the alarming figures given by the press, and make a distinction, for example, between pregnant women who are "contaminated" by the Zika virus and the very rare ones who give birth to a microcephalic baby because of Zika.

To date, the only country that has experienced an incredible increase in microcephaly that is believed to be "due to Zika" is Brazil.

The cases of microcephaly found in the US and Europe are from people who contracted the disease in South America, but the media are strangely careful not to say which South American country they are from.

As only one country has been affected, Brazil, it is highly likely that these cases also come from there.

And the areas where there have been very high numbers of microcephaly, according to Brazilian doctors, are areas where an insecticide has been added to the tap water.

But according to the WHO, this is a coincidence, because this insecticide, which to my knowledge is the only insecticide given to drink to an entire population, is harmless.

The WHO, which is behind the introduction of this insecticide into the daily drinking water of these Brazilians, claims that pyriproxyfen only blocks the development of mosquito larvae, not human foetuses...

The value of the mosquito in the environment

Because nothing is all bad, the mosquito does not only have bad sides.

With its diet of nectar, the mosquito is one of the agents of plant pollination like the bee and the butterfly.

Mosquito larvae are a source of food for certain fish, particularly gouramis and fighters (Betta splendens), which are particularly fond of them.

Once adult, they are also eaten by various insectivorous animals such as birds, amphibians, bats, etc.

Disease-carrying mosquito species already live in urban areas and are therefore not useful for pollination or water purification.

Intervention on these species does not therefore pose a risk to ecosystems.

Why does a mosquito bite itch?

The mosquito bite is usually painless, but once the bite is over, the itching can be very unpleasant.

This itch is actually an allergic reaction of the skin to an anti-coagulant compound injected by the mosquito's proboscis when it bites.

As with any allergen, the severity of the reaction differs from person to person, but also according to the species of mosquito that has bitten.

In extremely rare cases, the allergic reaction can even lead to anaphylactic shock, requiring emergency intervention.

For those who say they never get stung, it is very likely that they are stung but are insensitive to the allergen, hence the absence of a pimple.

Protecting yourself from mosquitoes

Prevention through food

Western food (potatoes, bread, with too much salt and sugar) contributes to a high secretion of lactic acid which attracts mosquitoes.

Certain foods such as garlic, onions, chillies, basil, often used in the Thai cuisine give a body odour that mosquitoes do not like, but it is not foolproof.

For example, if you eat raw garlic, your body will give off odours that mosquitoes don't like, if you're with other people who don't eat raw garlic, you'll be the least appetising and they'll attack others, but if you're alone they'll bite you.

Studies published in the University of California's Nature Magazine explain that the mosquito also avoids the odours of a certain chemical (3-octanol) found in bananas, grapes and strawberries.

Personally, I like to eat raw garlic with my food and I had a Laotian girlfriend, who did not eat raw garlic, who once asked me why the mosquitoes only bit her when we were together.

Vitamin B12 against mosquitoes

A few years ago, it was said that consuming vitamin B1 could protect against mosquitoes, I tried it like many others without much result.

But now there are a few testimonies of people who take vitamin B12 or a vitamin B complex with B12 and say they have results.

Vitamin B12 is said to give your body a smell that scares away mosquitoes.

You can find vitamin B12 at Amazon here.

Commercial mosquito protection

There are various products on the market against mosquitoes: aerosols, diffusers, candles, ultrasound, etc.

These processes often contain synthetic chemicals and/or consume energy.

Mosquito net : the best solution for a good night's sleep, some hotels have them, but most rely on the cooling system:

Fans and air conditioning If you sleep with the fan or air conditioning on, you are normally protected, but be careful not to catch a cold!

Repellents with DEET : such as 'Insect Ecran', 'Autan' or 'Repel Insect', to be sprayed on all exposed parts; without propellant.

Please note that there are some contraindications: they are not suitable for pregnant women and babies and not all are suitable for children.

DEET is dangerous in high concentrations (risk of irritation or poisoning).

There is an alternative: repellent sprays based on essential oils.

Coils They are intended for outdoor use (do not use them in a bedroom).

Insecticide spray: disadvantages: sometimes toxic (leave to act for 1 hour before re-occupying the room)

Insecticides for both aerosols and diffusers are often synthetic pyrethrins (pyrethrin, transfluthrin, permethrin, etc.).

Synthetic pyrethrum is harmful if inhaled or if it comes into contact with the skin.

Another fortunately less used insecticide substance is dichlorvos, which is classified as a possible human carcinogen.

Dichlorvos has been banned in France since the end of 2008.

Electric diffusers : plugged into a power outlet, they release insecticides into the room.

Refills are available in the form of tablets or vials of liquid.

They are sometimes only suitable for receiving refills of the same brand, so the customer is forcibly 'loyal'.

Ultrasonic devices : their effectiveness has yet to be proven.

In addition, they can disturb other animals such as bats (which also feed on mosquitoes), dogs, cats and some birds.

Mosquito repellent candles: Often used outdoors, these are scented candles, most often with citronella.

The effectiveness of these candles is not great, but the smell is nice!

If used indoors, a candle should be kept away from flammable objects.

Beware, however, that today's candles are mostly made of paraffin, a petroleum derivative that is not necessarily ideal for your health.

Also beware, mosquito repellent candles very often contain insecticides!

It is possible to make your own by adding lemon eucalyptus, geranium or lavender essential oil when making a candle.

Protection against mosquitoes by plants

Essential oils Lemon eucalyptus, geranium or lavender essential oils are effective in repelling mosquitoes, unlike citronella essential oil which, although promoted by the trade, has only a very limited effect.

A mixture of alcohol, water and a few drops of one of the above-mentioned essential oils can be used to make a preventive friction lotion.

The essential oil is soluble in alcohol, not in water, so pour the drops of essential oil into the alcohol and mix vigorously before adding water.

Essential oils used incorrectly can be dangerous, read the precautions for use.

Lamiaceae : The usefulness of Lamiaceae as a repellent for various insect species is well known.

There are several ways to protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Lemon balm is certainly the most effective, but it has a tendency to proliferate, which can be a problem in the garden.

Lemon balm : Lemon balm is a type of mint with a lemongrass smell.

Planting lemon balm near openings (doors, windows) acts as a repellent for mosquitoes and various other insects.

Its essential oil, although less effective than that of real citronella, also acts to prevent bites.

Lemon balm has the advantage of being able to be grown in cold climates (Northern Europe and the mountains), whereas lemongrass fears frost.

Lemon thyme : Lemon thyme is a variety of thyme that smells like lemon.

It grows even in winter and is well adapted to the French climate.

Placing a pot in a house can help prevent mosquitoes.

Small leaf basil : small-leaf basil (different from kitchen basil) is known to be effective in repelling many diptera, especially flies.

Its strong smell is also said to repel mosquitoes.

Geraniaceae : Plants of the genera Geranium and Pelargonium (also known as geraniums in horticulture) produce essential oils that are not good for mosquitoes: a drop of this essence on the pillowcase is often enough to keep them away all night.

Houses where these plants grow on windowsills are apparently never affected by mosquitoes.

Lemon geranium (Pelargonium citrosa): seems to be the most effective variety against mosquitoes.

Pyrethrum : very effective against many insects.

Other mosquito protection

* Empty (at least once a week) the underside of pots, watering cans, watering cans, and other containers that may contribute to the formation of small deposits of water, watering or rain, in which tens of thousands of mosquitoes can develop in a few days.

* check that water does not stagnate in the gutters.

* Put copper wire (electric wire without its plastic sheath) under flower pots and in small containers, or a copper coin.

This metal in the water causes a high mortality of the larvae, and allows to double the reproduction times.

* Cover containers that cannot be emptied tightly.

How to treat a mosquito bite?

Ways to stop the itch of a mosquito bite.

1- Use an anti venom pump The most effective way to suck out the venom is to use a vacuum cleaner! You can find some here: anti-venom pumps

2- Use an ice cube Cold on the bite can soothe the itch, as can heat.

3- Use a tiger balm Put a little cream or liquid on the pimple and massage. There are many brands, more or less effective, but the small sticks of the Poy-Sian brand that can be found in all shops in Thailand do the trick.

4- Clean the area with soap Sometimes just cleaning the stung area with soap and water is enough to soothe the itch!

5- Use toothpaste Toothpaste: Toothpaste has little known properties, in addition to cleaning teeth, it can relieve burns and insect bites, just put some on the pimple and massage around it.

6- Use a basil leaf The best thing to do is to crush a basil leaf between your fingers and use the paste on the bite. Thai friends have told me that it can also have an effect on some snake bites!

What not to do

Do not scratch with your fingernails, as this can create a wound that can become infected.

It's best not to touch it, but if you really can't hold it in, then just tapping the area, or rubbing it with the skin of your fingers (not fingernails) will give you relief as well.

How to kill mosquitoes without chemicals?

To help in the ongoing fight against mosquitoes and dengue haemorrhagic fever, one idea is to put them in a trap that can kill many of them.

What we need is essentially :

200 ml water
50 grams of brown sugar
1 gram of yeast (bread yeast, available in any supermarket)
A 2 litre plastic bottle

The following are the steps to be developed:

1. Cut a plastic bottle down the middle. Save the bottleneck part:

2. Mix the brown sugar with hot water:

Allow to cool and then pour the liquid into the bottom half of the bottle.

3. Add the yeast. No need to mix. It will create carbon dioxide.

4. Place the funnel upside down inside the other half of the bottle.

5. Wrap the bottle with something black, less high, and put it in a corner of your house.

6. To avoid ants, place the bottle on a plate with a bottom of water.

In a fortnight you will see how many mosquitoes have died inside the bottle.

In addition to cleaning their homes, the breeding grounds of mosquitoes, we can use this very useful method in schools, nurseries, hospitals and homes.