With the warmer weather comes the return of mosquitoes! From the most effective repellent to the best mosquito netting, we’ll show you the very best ways to keep those pesky insects at bay.
Whether on a terrace or while you’re sleeping, mosquitoes disturb your summer every year. Mosquitoes are a fact of life in France.
Among them, the tiger mosquito continues to spread across the country, worrying authorities and holidaymakers alike. But how can you protect yourself effectively?
A few methods
There are several tricks you can use to keep mosquitoes away (and avoid their unpleasant bites). Frédéric Simard, a researcher at the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) in Montpellier, France, tells actu.fr about a few of them.
- Avoid placing water in your home:
To protect yourself from mosquitoes, experts advise you not to attract them to your home in the first place. Mosquitoes need water, and drink from flowerpot bowls and vases. Stagnant water is also the ideal place for eggs to be laid and larvae to develop.
It’s therefore advisable to empty them once a week, and to walk around your garden regularly to make sure there’s no stagnant water.
- Install a mosquito net
This is one of the only tools that has no impact on the environment,” insists Frédéric Simard. Put it on windows or doors, for peace of mind all summer long.
- Put repellent spray on yourself
In summer, we’re likely to be uncovered… which leaves room for mosquitoes to bite. So cover up outside with repellent spray, available from chemists.
- Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing
Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors and are more likely to bite through skinny jeans than loose clothing. So opt for loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
Preconceived ideas that don’t work
If you thought you were using more natural techniques, think again: experts say they don’t really work.
Among the preconceived ideas are the famous essential oils. They work, but only for a limited time, as they evaporate very quickly.
There are also anti-mosquito bracelets, ultrasound applications and light traps, which aren’t all that effective.
Fewer mosquitoes than last year
Experts are observing a lower density of mosquitoes this year, normally active from May to November. “We have fewer mosquitoes over the same period than last year,” Frédéric Simard tells actu.fr.
This is due to a wetter and cooler spring than last year. But don’t get your hopes up, the expert nevertheless warns that their presence may change.
The proliferation of the tiger mosquito continues
The tiger mosquito has been expanding for years. In 2023, it crossed France and reached Normandy.
Originally from Asia, the species arrived in France via Italy in 2004. Present in just one département at the time, the tiger mosquito is now spreading across 80 départements.
It’s a biological invasion. The tiger mosquito will be increasingly present throughout France. New communes will be colonized this summer.
Frédéric Simard Researcher at the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Montpellier
The insect bites during the day and poses a danger to humans. It can transmit diseases (such as the dengue virus, chikungunya or Zika), some of which can be fatal. So do everything you can to protect yourself.
