Mosquitoes love biting people. If you are staying in Nigeria and you have not been bitten by a mosquito, well, you may need to change your environment to have this malaria filling experience. Ok, kidding. We were taught that the Female Anopheles species transmits the malaria parasite, but what they forgot to tell us is that attracting and repelling mosquitoes has much to do with colours, heat, moisture, etc.
Here are various tips on what attracts mosquitoes:
Heat: Mosquitoes are attracted to heat which means that the temperature of the human body can attract them. Try turning off air supply like your fans and air conditioners, and watch the way they’ll react to you. Although some of our Nigerian mosquitoes are overly quailed to survive in cold weather, places that generate heat are on their top list. No wonder these creatures flock in on pregnant women because of the extra heat they produce.
Moisture: Mosquitoes are very comfortable with moisture because it is the best place for them to grow and propagate. So they’re attracted to body perspiration. If you have a cloth dampened with sweat from your day’s work, it is advised you do away with it.
Carbon dioxide: Remember you were taught that you breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide? Well, these insects have carbon dioxide’ sensor. This sensor helps them to recognize carbon dioxide secretions to hone in to.
Dark Colours: I was leading to this all along. The color of our home, home surroundings, curtains and blinds, room paints, and the clothes we wear determine whether we will breed mosquitoes in our home or not. They’re are highly visual, especially later in the afternoon, and their first mode of search for humans is through vision. People dressed in dark colors — black, blue, navy blue, red, purple — stand out. It is worse if you are going on a camping adventure, please, leave your dark colored clothes at home unless you plan on harvesting these buzzing insects or you just love them.
Now that we have figured out what attracts mosquitoes, what then repels them apart from you wasting money on insecticides?
- They’re are disoriented by light, so you may want to cancel lights out rule.
- Drink lemon juice. Most insecticides have lemon scent because they repel mosquitoes.
- Add Garlic to your meals or just chew. You can also rub garlic cloves on your exposed skin.
- Take Vitamin B-1 tablets. I don’t know what this really does to mosquitoes, perhaps their ancestors had taken it years ago and had a terrible experience. All I do know is that Vitamin B-1 produces an odor that is not easily detectable but repels mosquitoes, gnats, and other biting insects.
- Wear Light Colored Clothes. No need emphasizing the need to wear colors like white or khaki if you indeed want to deter these biting insects and look refreshed.
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This article was first published on 30th August 2017 and updated on July 31st, 2018 at 2:54 pm
adepeju
Adepeju Adenuga is a writer (considering where you are reading this, makes perfect sense). She holds a Masters Degree in Literature in English from the University of Lagos.
Comments (1)
in school, we were taught that mosquitoes are piercing and sucking insects. I submit to you that the mosquitoes have evolved to biting and chewing insects. I won’t be surprised if they have labour unions and pressure groups. Meanwhile Ms Adepeju, how can you tell people to rub garlic on their skin? please don’t don’t attempt if your partner is sleeping beside you.