It is rainy season again and we all know that mosquitoes like the wet and damp environment to breed. The mosquito life cycle takes place in four main stages from eggs through adulthood. There is the egg, larvae, pupae and adult stages, all of which takes place in and around water. Although the species of mosquito that transmits malaria to humans is the female Anopheles mosquito, there are other types of mosquitoes that bite humans as well. In order to avoid the bites of these mosquitoes in this rainy season, one has to be very careful. The following tips can help in preventing mosquito bites.
- Avoid stagnant water: Since mosquitoes live and thrive from stagnant waters in our environment, the best thing to disrupt their life cycle is to get rid of this kind of water around us either by flushing it into waterways or by simply pouring oil on the surface of the water. This will block the respiration of mosquitoes thereby killing them before they develop.
- Wear socks and gloves: The commonest areas where mosquitoes bite humans are the legs, arms and thighs. These are the areas that are less clothed and most exposed and susceptible to bites. Once the skin is protected by clothing, including socks and gloves mosquito bites will be inhibited.
- Sleep under a net: Insecticide-treated nets are now commercially available in the market at a low cost. The best way to sleep in a room with mosquitoes is to sleep under an insecticide-treated net. This way, mosquitoes will not be able to get into the net to bite or transmit malaria.
- Use an insecticide: Mosquitoes by nature are insects that survive adverse environmental conditions due to their nocturnal nature. However, an easy way of getting rid of them is by spraying insecticides on them and in their hiding places. There are many brands of insecticides in the market which effectively work to eliminate most insects including mosquitoes. All you have to do is buy one of them and use against mosquitoes.