Protecting Your Home From Mosquitoes

Living in the tropics can be like paradise but sometimes there are downsides and one of them is definitely mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes are not only annoying and a nuisance (who hasn’t been woken up by one buzzing in their ear at night?), they also carry several serious diseases some of which can be fatal, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and the zika virus.

There are actually 3,000 species of mosquitoes spread around every area of the world except Antarctica, and they’re responsible for more human deaths per year than any other creature. The Anopheles mosquito is particularly dangerous because it transmits malaria and kills more than one million people annually, primarily in Africa.

Only the female mosquito actually bites humans and one can sense exhaled carbon dioxide from up to 75 feet away. They are cold blooded insects which is why they are mainly found in warm climates.

Even though it can be difficult to get rid of mosquitoes completely there are ways that you can minimise the chances of them getting into your house and making a meal of you.

*Maintain screens on windows, doors and vents including sealing any gaps.

*Remove stagnant water from around your house so they cannot breed.

*Use insect repellant in the home and on your body if necessary – natural repellants such as citronella are particularly good for people with allergies.

*Change water in vases, pet drinking bowls, and bird baths on a regular basis.

*Control vegetation around your home so they have nowhere to hide.

Did you know? Mosquito is Spanish for ‘little fly’!