Mosquitoes

Mosquito is a common insect which belongs to the family Culicidae. The word mosquito is of Spanish or Portuguese origin which translates as ‘little fly’. A mosquito passes through four phases in its life cycle i.e. egg, larva, pupa and adult. The fully developed mosquito is also called an imago. Eggs are laid by adult females in still water like puddles, lakes, ponds, or containers etc.

The life of an grown-up mosquito is four-eight weeks long. The mouthparts of mosquitoes are adapted to pierce the skin of animals and plants. Males feed on nectar and the juices of plants whilst the females need to feed on blood to obtain nutrients in order to lay eggs. Over 3,500 species of mosquitoes are to be found in the world.

The females of some species feed on humans and are the cause of numerous contagious diseases. Egg development and blood digestion are two very important events in the life of female mosquitoes. They serve as a vector to transmit viruses and parasites from one person to another.

Mosquito control is crucial for getting rid of harmful mosquitoes and the illnesses spread by them. It is likely that mosquitoes spread diseases to more than 700 million people in Asia, Africa, Mexico, Central America and South America. Many deaths are the result of contagious illnesses brought about by the bites of mosquitoes.

When mosquito control was less widespread, thousands of deaths were caused every year. Malaria and yellow fever were known to be caused by mosquito bites. WestNile fever is also transmitted by mosquitoes. Dengue virus and Encephalitis are other contagious diseases brought about by mosquitoes.

Natural predators of mosquitoes include the dragonfly which assists control the number of mosquitoes by eating them. The reaction to the bites of mosquitoes can be instantaneous or delayed. The irritation on the bites is the result of an immunity response.

A number of anti-itch treatments are obtainable on the market. Some treatments are taken orally whilst others are for external use only. Itching can be reduced by applying an adhesive tape to the region of the bite or by sucking on the region through a straw.

A very effectual anti-inflammatory agent is Tea tree oil, which lessens itching. Insecticides can also be used to kill the larvae of the mosquito. Source reduction is a very efficient way to control mosquitoes by removing still water. Biocontrol is a different remedy by which natural enemies of mosquitoes are used to reduce their numbers.

Chemical pesticides will kill adult mosquitoes because they are the most harmful from the point of view of spreading disease. DDT was used for the control of mosquitoes on a big scale but now it’s use is banned in some countries. Different kinds of repellents are used to deter mosquitoes from biting. DEET is used as an good repellent.

Picaridin and IR3535 are also very commonly used CDC-recommended repellents. Oil of Eucalyptus is a natural repellent and it is highly recommended. It is very important to take safety measures to protect yourself from the contagious illnesses carried by mosquitoes.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on several topics, but is currently involved with getting rid of mosquito bites. If you would like to know more or check out some fantastic offers, please go to our website at Mosquito Bite Swelling.