Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes: The definitive guide and how to eliminate them

Wherever we go, it is almost inevitable to find mosquitoes hanging around and trying to make our life just a terrible nightmare; And it is not only annoying the sound that these bichillos produce when flying, but also leave an uncomfortable and painful sting that, sometimes, can be as dangerous as deadly.

Now, although you’ve probably dealt with them all your life, you probably still do not know the reasons why these little bugs appear in your house, and much less know how to eliminate them, rather than with the use of the popular ones insecticides. Therefore, today we will tell you some things about these unpleasant insects and we will give you our best advice so that eliminating them is a simple task.

What are mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are small flying insects that are found all over the world, especially in temperate regions. They have two very long and thin wings, with small scales on their veins, a characteristic that serves to differentiate them from other similar insects such as flies. Its body is narrow and has long antennae with coils of short hair in the case of females, and long hair in the case of males.

Many believe that all mosquitoes sting the same but the truth is not so. In fact, it is the females who are responsible for those annoying bites that cause us to itch and redden the skin, since they have a kind of oral apparatus that allows them to pierce and suck the blood of their victims, which are usually warm-blooded animals. . In the case of males, they have a common oral apparatus and feed on the sap of plants and water.

As we have already said, mosquitoes are insects, but they are quite clever and specialized in detecting hundreds of chemical body factors that allow them to choose their next prey, that is why it is so easy to find us to feed on our blood; And if that were not enough, these bugs are often carriers of different parasites and viruses that live inside them, waiting to be transmitted to the body of another animal or, to our bad luck, that of a human being.

Why do mosquitoes appear?

In general, mosquitoes need to be in humid places in order to survive and proliferate; and is that females only leave their eggs in the water, either current or in stagnant water, so they will appear whenever there is a pond, swamp, estuary or container with water ready for them.

For this same reason, sites where there are many plants, such as gardens and forests, are perfect for these annoying pests to reproduce easily, since they tend to accumulate rainwater, forming small grounds that serve of cradle for the eggs of these small insects.

Also, it is said that the places in which a lot of garbage accumulates and there are remains of rotten food are usually the perfect target for the proliferation of mosquitoes, since their sense of smell is very developed and they easily perceive the smell of fruits and other rotting foods.

So, whether you have a garden, live near a lake or have fountains or containers with garbage and stagnant water at home, it is very likely that you share your space with mosquitoes, so that, before deciding on a fumigation, it is You need to empty the liquid from those containers, get rid of the garbage bags, remove the water from the vases and the weeds around your home, as this can help to greatly diminish the presence of these annoying little animals.

Types or species of mosquitoes

Although there are many species of mosquitoes in all parts of the world, we will only mention some of the most common and problematic for humans.

Common mosquito

This is the classic mosquito that we find in urban areas, and is the one that bothers us the most because of the buzz that it emits and the bites it leaves on our skin, especially during summer nights.

Actually, it is the female mosquito that sucks our blood and can do so without interruption, since its saliva prevents the blood from clotting. The same thing causes us a tremendous inflammation and redness of the area, especially when we scratch, and it is even possible that we catch an encephalitis if our defenses are on the ground and we get many bites from infected mosquitoes.

Tiger mosquito

It is one of the most widespread species throughout the world, causing great concern. It has been given that name since it has some white spots on its body and is of a much larger size compared to the common mosquito.

The tiger mosquito is native to the Asian jungles, it likes to lay its eggs in stagnant waters and its bite tends to prevail longer than other mosquitoes, in addition to inflammation and infection are also usually greater, to the point of occurrence very high fevers.

Ochlerotatus

This species is quite common in South America and tends to feed on the blood of people and pets. They also usually cause serious infections in cattle.

This type of mosquito usually goes out in the hottest times and rarely tolerates low temperatures. He is seen most often in flood situations, so he is also known as the flood mosquito.

Anopheles

It is a species present on all continents, which indicates that it can easily adapt to any climate, although it tends to prefer those that are more temperate, tropical and subtropical.

Of the 400 Anopheles mosquito species that have been registered, only 40 of them carry the parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, which can be quite dangerous for people due to malaria.

Mosquito bite

As we have said, female mosquitoes are the only ones that feed on blood, so the bites that remain on the skin are borne by these small. They feed just before laying their eggs, since they need the blood to be fertile and to continue with the reproductive cycle. As for the males, they feed on the nectar of the fruits and the sap of the plants, so that they do not usually attack humans or other animals.

Some mosquito species have a preference for certain hosts, so they only bite them, while others are less demanding and go in search of everything that has blood.

These annoying little bugs are attracted by the movement and are very capable to detect it, and also have a very particular system for the detection of different properties in their prey, among which are some corporal substances and residues that we expel through our skin and our mouth, which make these little animals bite some more than others.

When mosquitoes bite us, they secrete a protein that prevents the blood from clotting, allowing them to suck the blood without it solidifying and without the wound closing. This protein, in addition to the wound, make our defenses are activated and the body secretes a certain amount of histamine, which is nothing more than a substance involved in allergic reactions. In short, what is produced is a slight allergic reaction that can be of greater or lesser degree, depending on the protein and other types of substances that have been transmitted by the bite of the mosquito.

Avoid mosquito bites

To treat the bites of these bugs, we can resort to chemical repellents made in laboratories or more natural options such as herbs and sage of some plants, as they have antimicrobial substances that naturally repel these animals.

In addition, there are many antihistamine products that serve to calm the itching and inflammation of this type of bites.

Are mosquitoes dangerous?

If we ask ourselves how dangerous these insects are, we should think about the different diseases that can be transmitted to us and that some of them can be deadly. As an example, we have malaria, which is still one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide today. There are also other delicate diseases such as chikungunya, yellow fever and Nile fever, all transmitted by mosquito bites.

In a few words, we can say that these are some dangerous bugs and that we should take care of, unless we want to expose ourselves to catch some of these diseases.

How to eliminate mosquitoes

When we talk about eliminating and controlling mosquito pests, we can find a large number of available products that have been developed for professional or general use. For example, there are the so-called larvicides, which are effective chemicals to eliminate mosquito larvae that remain in the water. There are also adulticides, which are used mainly in spraying to eliminate the adult moquitos, and there are synergists who, despite not being toxic to the mosquito itself, help to improve the effect of adulticides.

Fumigation

Now, although you have these products at your disposal, in some communities the public fumigation service is offered for the control of mosquitoes, through pesticides that can be applied from trucks or airplanes, so you can contact your local health department or Some of the community agencies responsible for public health, to get help and solve the problem safely.

However, if you decide to use the spray products to kill these bugs, you should make sure that no one in your home is allergic to its components, including your pet. If there is someone sensitive to the product, you will have to remove it from the place before proceeding with the fumigation. It is best to use protective glasses, gloves and face masks to protect against contact with the insecticide.

Anti-mosquito spray products

When applying the spray, lift the furniture and check especially the places where there is usually little light and why you do not circulate normally, and spray the product as indicated on the label. It is very important that you do not try to mix the insecticide with any other chemical, as it could cause you problems breathing and other discomforts.

On the other hand, if you think that the sprays are too toxic and you do not want to use them, you can get one of those famous antimosquito rackets that serve to electrocute the mosquitoes, they are a great alternative that will surely help you.

Home remedies to eradicate mosquitoes

In case fumigation or insecticides for domestic use are not your thing, here you will find some home remedies that can be used to kill mosquitoes safely and naturally.

Mint oil

The smell of mint oil is quite strong and mosquitoes find it unbearable. You can take a little of this oil and pour it in a container with spray, and then spray it through your spaces and even on the exposed parts of your body.

Another option is to plant mint bushes in your garden so that they have the same effect on these bugs.

Lavender oil

Like mint oil, this product serves to repel mosquitoes. You can spray it through the rooms or apply it on the parts of your body that are exposed. If you do not have the oil, you can use scented lavender air fresheners and it will work too.

Beer

Although it seems a bit crazy, beer not only serves to refresh us on a summer afternoon, but also is great to scare the mosquitoes. You just have to fill a container with beer and leave it at home to do the rest of the work.

Garlic

Mosquitoes hate the smell of garlic, so you can crush a few teeth and boil them in water to get a powerful repellent, you just have to pour the liquid in a spray bottle and spray it in your rooms. This will end the bichillos you have at home and prevent more of them from entering your home.

Other tricks to kill mosquitoes

If you do not have the necessary ingredients to prepare the home remedies, you can also resort to these tricks that we have brought especially to kill mosquitoes.

Citronella

Either in candles or in oil, citronella helps to scare away these annoying insects, you just have to place it in your home and the mosquitoes will get away.

Coffee grounds

When you prepare the coffee in the morning and in the afternoon, do not throw away the waste, you can use it as a repellent against these animals. You just have to mix the coffee eraser with the soil of your garden and not only serve as a natural fertilizer, but also prevent mosquito larvae from proliferating by watering your plants.

Catnip and Santamaría

If you have a garden at home, you can grow plants such as catnip and Santamaría that are great for repelling mosquitoes.

Anyway, now that you know more than one way to deal with these annoying little animals, you will be able to take them out of your life and your home once and for all.