The sound of a mosquito buzzing past your ear is annoying. But the greater concern is getting bitten by one because of the diseases these insects are known to carry: Dengue, Yellow Fever, Zika, West Nile, and Malaria.
Our unpredictable weather, tropical climate, lack of proper waste management systems, and rising incidence of poverty set the ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed and thrive in the Philippines.
Mosquitoes are a part of daily life in the Philippines. To avoid getting bitten, Filipinos head off to the supermarket to buy mosquito repellent, mosquito coil, mosquito electric plug and mats, and insecticide spray.
These products will work but in addition, here are 8 tips you can use to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
1. Dispose of Standing Water
The female mosquito needs to mate only once to lay 100 eggs every three nights. And she only requires a thimble-sized amount of water to lay her larvae.
The larvae to adult cycle only takes eight to 10 days. If you have a lot of standing water around your home, you can easily have thousands of mosquitoes buzzing and biting in two weeks’ time.
Dispose of standing water in your area. Common sources of standing water are pots, cans, containers, rubber tires, and plant holders.
2. Grow Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
Mother Nature has provided you with plants that not only look beautiful and smell nice but also repel mosquitoes.
Here are 12 plants that can keep mosquitoes away from your house:
- Citronella
- Marigold
- Basil
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Catnip
- Mint
- Bee Balm
- Scented Geraniums
- Allium
- Sage
- Floss Flower
Grow these mosquito-repelling plants near areas in your home that receive guests or are frequently busy with activities.
3. Wear Light-colored and Tightly-woven Clothes
Mosquitoes are more active in the daytime and tend to targets they can easily see. Dark colors stand out during the day and will attract more hungry mosquitoes compared to light-colored clothes.
Cotton is a popular choice for clothing material in the Philippines because it’s light and cool. Unfortunately, a mosquito can easily bite you through cotton. Instead, wear clothes that are made of tightly-woven material such as high-tech athletic wear that uses synthetic fibers.
Mosquitoes will not be able to bite through these tightly-woven fibers even if your fashion sensibilities prefer darker colors.
4. Stay Cool and Hydrated
Exercise should be on everyone’s daily “to-do” list. However, your appreciable efforts to stay healthy and fit can also make you a prime target as a food source for mosquitoes.
When you exercise, your heart rate goes up and your body produces more CO2 that attracts mosquitoes. Likewise, your body produces more heat that mosquitoes find very inviting.
Keep these 3 helpful tips in mind while exercising to avoid becoming a target by mosquitoes:
- Stay hydrated and cool by drinking water as frequently as possible.
- Towel off perspiration whenever you can.
- Practice proper breathing techniques to effectively regulate your heart rate.
And as we discussed in the previous section, wear light-colored clothing that’s made of tightly-woven material during exercise.
5. Keep an Electric Fan Running
According to Jonathan Day, Ph.D., and a professor of Medical Entomology at the University of Florida, any type of wind gust traveling at 1mph is enough to keep mosquitoes away.
If there are mosquitoes in your room, keep in mind that they fly low when scouring for food to avoid gusts of wind. Lower the position of the head of the electric fan so that the generated air blows toward your legs and feet.
6. Don’t Plan Activities Before Dusk and Dawn
Meanwhile, according to Howard Russell, M.S, and an entomologist at Michigan State University, mosquitoes tend to be hungrier before dusk and dawn.
Again, the wind has something to do with this. Wind velocities tend to be weaker or dissipate outright during the hours that precede dusk and dawn. The condition makes it easier for mosquitoes to hunt for food.
Runners who tend to run before the sun rises often find out too late that their legs have been riddled with mosquito bites.
The same can be said for people who attend outdoor events such as weddings and family reunions that are scheduled before dinner time.
7. Minimize Alcohol Intake
When you indulge in alcohol, weight gain, impaired thinking, and poor judgment are just a few things you’ll worry about.
Add getting bitten by mosquitoes to the list.
Similar to exercise and eating spicy foods, drinking alcohol can lead to a metabolic spike and increase your body’s production of CO2.
As discussed in #4, increased CO2 production attracts mosquitoes.
If your friends think you’re a party-pooper, ask them for an electric fan.
8. Avoid Using Scented Products
Nancy Troyano, Ph.D., a certified entomologist has studied the effects of scented products on mosquitoes’ behavior.
Her conclusion?
Scented products such as perfumes, lotions, and soaps attract mosquitoes and compel them to bite.
If your area has a large-scale mosquito problem, avoid wearing or using scented products.
Conclusion
It’s never just one mosquito. You might kill one and think you’re safe but chances are there will be millions more waiting for the chance to sample your blood.
The best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to go to the source – the septic tank where female mosquitoes breed millions of larvae every day.
You don’t have to go to the septic tank. All you have to do is to flush 2 pieces of ZAPS Teme Tablet down your toilet.
Once the tablets hit your septic tank, the temephos larvicide will go to work right away – killing millions of mosquito and fly larvae.
How soon will you see results?
Remember that the cycle from larvae to adult mosquito is 8 to 10 days. ZAPS Teme Tablet will continue to kill larvae for the next 5 weeks!
You should see and feel results right away!
Buy your stock of ZAPS Teme Tablet right now at www.pharmcle.ph/products/zaps-teme-tablet.
