A Simple Guide About Mosquitoes

Their Lifestyle: They are most often found around standing pools of water where they lay their eggs. Mosquitoes are attracted to the scent of compounds released by the human skin, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid. They usually like adults better than children, prefer men over women, and tend to be on the go at daybreak and twilight.

What they bring: Apart from their annoying buzz, mosquitoes are disease carriers, transmitting diseases like dengue and malaria when they bite humans. Chemicals in mosquito saliva can prevent blood from clotting and induce an immune response that we commonly witness on our skin as redness, swelling and itching.

To prevent bites: Wear protective clothing or apply insect repellent. To destroy their breeding places, throw away all standing water. Spray areas where they congregate. Yards that are connected to particularly wet areas may need more intensive pest control.

To treat bites: Wash the area of the bite with soap and water. Discourage scratching of the affected area to avoid further local infection. Place ice on the area for 10 minutes to lessen swelling. For itch or pain, mix salt and water to make a paste and apply for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse after wards.