Beware of Mosquitoes!

By now we all should know that mosquitoes require stagnant water to breed. Pools of ponds of water that are stagnant have the potential to accelerate mosquito-breeding. On the other hand, during the hot summer months, when dam water levels receded to dangerously low levels and out immediate surroundings dried up considerably as a result, it was uncommon to see pools of water around us. As a consequence we may have noticed that there were comparatively less mosquitoes  around. However, the rainy season just arrived so it is appropriate to take a closer look at an all-important  health factor that enters our lives this time of year because mosquitoes will now enjoy a much wider dispersion of breeding areas.

Mosquitoes can transfer Vector borne diseases such as Ross River Virus, Bramah Forest and Dengue Fever. Oh! It can cause hearthworm in your pet dogs too. For this reason it is important that you exercise maximum control over the number of mosquitoes around your home and protect you and your family from being bitten. Mosquitoes are most active around dusk and up to two hours after dusk, but some remain on the prowl regardless of the time of the day or night. If you or your kids are commonly outside at dusk at this time of year, make certain that you are all wearing loose fitting long shirts and pants. Tight fitting clothes can be penetrated by mosquitoes. Also it is a compelling time to use mosquito repellant, which you can conveniently purchase in different drug stores.

osquitoes can go from egg to adult in one week under hot summer condtions (or when the rainy season subsides in earnest) and those aforementioned stagnant pools of water become common. Always be cognizant that breeding sites can include fresh, salt, clean or polluted water depending on the species. On the contrary, healthy wetlands such as running rivers or streams are insignificant breeding sites as they support a balanced ecosystem containing natural predators of mosquito and its larvae. Not that you can tell their genders when those little critters are flying around, but female mosquitoes are the ones that bite because they require blood to develop eggs. Their male counterparts feed on honeydew and nectar instead.

And never underestimate the breeding power of female mosquitoes; they can lay up to 200 larvae at a time. The ways in which mosquitoes find us include their detection of warmth and or moisture (in form or perspiration that our bodies emit), from the carbon dioxide we breathe out, and naturally or by sight at close distances. Because humans unlike dogs or cats which are covered with hair and fur . have unprotected skin, we become their targets of choice.

As much as possible, disallow your kids from going outside at dusk when mosquitoes are most active.