Home remedies and tips: Plague of mosquitoes looms: How to protect yourself from the insects
Plague of mosquitoes looming: how to protect yourself from insects
A warm winter, humid spring weather and now warmth. As a side effect, more mosquitoes are now back on the scene. Here’s how you can protect yourself from these annoying mosquitoes.
A mild winter and weeks of rainy weather in spring: this is likely to make 2024 a real insect summer again. Mosquitoes in particular could become a real nuisance. This is because high temperatures in combination with lots of rain ensure that several generations of mosquitoes hatch in succession within a few weeks, causing billions to buzz through the air.
Their buzzing and biting is particularly annoying at night – and mosquitoes can also ruin a beautiful summer evening with their mere presence. Not to mention their itchy bites. What is the best way to protect yourself from the biting insects?
Heat, light, smell: what attracts mosquitoes?
Puddles in gardens or fields in particular, but also other water containers such as birdbaths or watering cans are popular with mosquitoes. If you make sure that everything is dry, you can keep the pest somewhat under control in your own garden.
The belief that mosquitoes are attracted to light is widespread, but a misconception. A distinction can be made between diurnal, nocturnal and crepuscular mosquitoes. If the lights come on in many houses at dusk and mosquitoes fly in, this is because most mosquitoes are crepuscular.
If you have one in your bedroom, it often seems as if the insect is sitting right next to your ear. This is because mosquitoes are “nasal animals” and orientate themselves by the carbon dioxide exhaled in addition to the human body odor. The concentration of carbon dioxide is particularly high around the head. So even if you turn off the light but open the window, you will not be spared from mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can also intensely perceive the smell of body sweat, and the warmth of the body in particular attracts the biting insects here.
How can you protect yourself from mosquitoes?
There are a few things you can do if a mosquito has strayed into your bedroom and is robbing you of sleep, or whole swarms are buzzing around you as you sundowner. A shower can not only remove the smell of sweat, but also lower your body temperature. In summer, however, this usually only helps for a short time. You should avoid using strongly perfumed shower gels or creams – these also attract mosquitoes.
A fan indoors can help to stir up the air so that the mosquito cannot assess where odors are coming from. Essential oils such as eucalyptus, citrus or cedar wood as well as lavender, mint and tomato plants keep mosquitoes away. Special anti-mosquito scented candles or mosquito spray can also help, but are usually very chemical. It is also advisable to wear long light-colored clothing, as this does not attract mosquitoes as much as dark clothing.
Mosquito bite? The best home remedies
If you do get bitten by a mosquito, you should act quickly so that you are not plagued by itching for days afterwards. Cool the area with cold running water or a cool compress and apply an ointment containing antihistamines or hydrocortisone to the bite. If you don’t have these, you can also use your own spit to combat the inflammation.
A heated spoon held on the area can help relieve itching. Half an onion can also help to neutralize the mosquito venom and relieve the itching.
