How to Repel Mosquitoes - Mosquito Repellents

Keeping the Mosquitoes Away From You

Avoiding those bloodthirsty mosquitoes when outdoors can be a challenging task. If you don't protect yourself, you can be a very inviting meal for these critters. There are ways to avoid having all of those itchy, red welts all over your body. Using repellents to steer the mosquitoes away from you can help. There are repellents on the market as well as natural ways to repel mosquitoes.
Mosquito Attractants

The first line of defense to avoid mosquitoes is to stay away from activities and items that can attract them. By avoiding these things, the mosquitoes will find you less attractive meal.

    * Avoid dark clothing. Many mosquitoes use vision to locate hosts from a distance. Dark clothes and foliage are initial attractants.
    * Emit as little carbon dioxide as possible. You give off more carbon dioxide when you are hot or have been exercising. A burning candle or other fire is another source of carbon dioxide.
    * Emit as little lactic acid as possible. You release more lactic acid when you have been exercising or after eating certain foods (e.g., salty foods, high-potassium foods).
    * Avoid floral or fruity fragrances In addition to perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
    * Skin temperature is a key. The exact temperature depends on the type of mosquito. Many mosquitoes are attracted to the slightly cooler temperatures of the extremities. About the only way to avoid this is by covering your arms and legs with protective clothing.

Chemical Insect Repellents

Probably the most commonly known insect repellents contain the chemical DEET, which stands for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide. Repellents containing DEET can be applied to the skin or clothing to prevent bites from mosquitoes and ticks.

It is believed that DEET works by blocking the insect olfactory receptors for 1-octen-3-ol, which is the substanc contained in human sweat and breath. Insect repellents usually contain concentrations of DEET ranging from 10 to 35 percent. Repellents containing 20 to 35 percent concentrations are expected to keep the bugs away for six to 12 hours. Concentrations of less than 10 percent offer protection for one to three hours.

DEET is not recommended for infants less than two months old. It is also not to be applied to damaged skin. In some cases DEET can cause skin irritations or reactions. Another insect repellent, icaridin has been reported to be as effective as DEET without the irritation associated with DEET. According to the World Health Organization, icaridin "demonstrates excellent repellent properties comparable to, and often superior to, those of the standard DEET."

When applying any insect repellent you should follow these guidelines:

    * Always read the directions and apply accordingly.

    * Do not use any repellent that has not been approved by the EPA.
    * Watch for allergic reactions.
    * Do not apply repellent to mouth, eyes, cuts, wounds or sunburned skin.
    * When applying to your face, spray it on your hands and then rub on your face.
    * Only apply repellent to exposed skin.
    * Children should not apply insect repellent. Only adults should apply to children.
    * Apply only as often as label indicates.
    * Always wash repellent off of skin when you come inside.
    * Keep in mind, some things lower repellent effectiveness such as sunscreen, swimming, rain, sweat, and evaporation.

Is Catnip More Effective than DEET?

Researchers at Iowa State University claim that nepetalactone, the oil contained in catnip, is ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET. For the study, groups of 20 mosquitoes were put in a two-foot glass tube, half of which was treated with nepetalactone. After 10 minutes, only about four (20 percent) mosquitoes remained on the side treated with a high dose of the oil. In a low-dose test an average of 25 percent or five mosquitoes remained. In contrast, tests with DEET found that there were 40 to 45 percent or eight to nine, mosquitoes remaining on treated side.

Researchers hope that this study will lead to development of a nepetalactone insect repellent in the future. Catnip is primarily known for the stimulating effects it has on cats. Let's hope it doesn't make people wildly chase balls of yarn and climb up the curtains!

Natural Repellents

If you are uncomfortable spraying chemicals on your body then there are some natural mosquito repellents. These might not be as effective as DEET and will need to be applied more often. It is important to note that even though these are natural substances, some people can be sensitive to certain plant oils and high concentrations of these oils can be toxic.

    * Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
    * Cinnamon Oil
    * Citronella Oil
    * Rosemary Oil
    * Lemongrass Oil
    * Cedar Oil
    * Peppermint Oil
    * Geranium Oil
    * Castor Oil
    * Clove Oil

Citronella
Citronella Candles

While citronella candles won't keep swarms of mosquitoes from entering your backyard, they do offer some protection. One study compared the ability of commercially available 3% citronella candles, 5% citronella incense, and plain candles to prevent bites by Aedes mosquitoes under field conditions. People near the citronella candles had 42% fewer bites than the control group who had no protection. However, burning ordinary candles reduced the number of bites by 23%. The study concluded that the efficacy of citronella incense and plain candles were not that different. The ability of plain candles to decrease biting may result from their action as a decoy source of warmth, moisture, and carbon dioxide.
Types of Vegetation that Repel Mosquitoes

Many of the essential oils that act as mosquito deterrents can also work to repel mosquitoes in their vegetative form. These grasses and plant can be planted in your yard, garden and landscaping to add a little mosquito protection. However, don't expect the entire mosquito population to fly away and leave you alone.

    * Citronella grass is used to make the oil that is contained in candles that can be burned to repel mosquitoes. Citronella grass is actually a tropic plant that grows to be six feet tall, so it might not be practical in the average suburban backyard.
    * As we found out earlier, catnip is derived from a plant and is most commonly used to drive your cat crazy. However, planting catnip plant near your patio or deck will help repel mosquitoes.
    * The rosemary garden herb also has oil that repels mosquitoes. These are tropical plants and do not grow well in colder climates. However, you can grow them in a pot and take them inside during the winter.
    * With their yellows, oranges and reds, marigold flowers may look pretty but don't smell particularly pretty to humans or insects. They are a good plant for repelling mosquitoes as well as insects that can attack vegetable plants and aphids.
    * Horsemint has a scent similar to citronella, which mosquitoes don't like. Horsemint grows wild in most of the Eastern United States, from Mexico, Texas up to Minnesota to Vermont. It is partial to sandy soils.
    * The ageratum bedding plant contains coumarin, and mosquitoes detest the smell. It is used in the perfume industry and is even in some commercial mosquito repellants. Ageratums are annuals, and they come in a muted blue and white that compliments most other plantings.
    * There are two types of plants known as mosquito plants. One is a member of the geranium family that was genetically engineered to incorporate the properties of citronella. Since Citronella only grows in tropical places, this plant was created to bring the repellant properties of citronella into a hardier plant. The other kind of mosquito plant is agastache cana, which common names include Texas hummingbird mint, bubblegum mint, giant hyssop, or giant hummingbird mint.

Choosing a Repellent that is Right for You

Insect repellents do not protect all people in the same way. The effectiveness of a repellent depends on the mosquito species that is biting as well as the age, sex, level of activity, and attractiveness of the human using the repellent. Consider the following when choosing a repellent:

    * Are you in an area where you know that mosquito-borne diseases are present?
    * Are there a lot of mosquitoes around?
    * How much time will you be spending outdoors?
    * Will you be around heavily vegetated, humid areas during the day?
    * What types of activities will you engage in such as swimming, exercising, etc.?
    * What is the weather like? Is it humid and the temperature high?

Other Ways to Avoid the Mosquitoes

Make sure your yard doesn't contain any breeding areas for mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes look for areas with still, stagnant water to lay their eggs. Empty standing water from pots, children's pools, clogged gutters or any areas that are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Investing in a mosquito trap to place on your property can also reduce the mosquito population around your home. These traps can attract mosquitoes in an area as large as 1.5 acres. They attract mosquitoes by emitting a plume of carbon dioxide together with other mosquito attractants such as sugary scents, lactic acid, octenol, warmth, water vapor and sounds. By mimicking a mammal's scent and outputs, female mosquitoes are drawn toward the trap, where they are typically sucked into a net or holder by an electric fan where they are collected (www.megacatch.com). It is a safe and clean alternative to mosquito repellents.

3:44 AM | 3 komentar | Read More

Natural Mosquito Repellents

When I was pregnant, I wanted to avoid using toxic chemical insect repellents, yet the mosquitoes seemed to find me tastier than ever. My solution at that time was to wear what I called my 'DEET sheet', which was an old cotton sheet that had been sprayed with S.C. Johnson's Off! Deep Woods formula. While this was highly effective, it wasn't practical for use around kids, so I did research into safer, natural mosquito repellents. I learned that many so-called natural mosquito repellents don't repel mosquitoes (e.g., ultrasonic electronic devices), but some are backed by reputable research and really work.

Mosquitoes have complex methods of detecting hosts and different types of mosquitoes react to different stimuli. Most mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk, but there are also mosquitoes that seek hosts during the day. You can avoid being bitten by making sure you aren't attracting mosquitoes, using attractants to lure mosquitoes elsewhere, using a repellent, and avoiding actions that diminish the effectiveness of the repellent.

Mosquito Attractants

Use this list of items and activities that attract mosquitoes as a list of things to avoid or that can be used as bait to lure mosquitoes away from you.

    * Dark Clothing
      Many mosquitoes use vision to locate hosts from a distance. Dark clothes and foliage are initial attractants.

    * Carbon Dioxide
      You give off more carbon dioxide when you are hot or have been exercising. A burning candle or other fire is another source of carbon dioxide.

    * Lactic Acid
      You release more lactic acid when you have been exercising or after eating certain foods (e.g., salty foods, high-potassium foods).

    * Floral or Fruity Fragrances
      In addition to perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets.

    * Skin Temperature
      The exact temperature depends on the type of mosquito. Many mosquitoes are attracted to the slightly cooler temperatures of the extremities.

    * Moisture
      Mosquitoes are attracted by perspiration because of the chemicals it contains and also because it increases the humidity around your body. Even small amounts of water (e.g., moist plants or mud puddles) will draw mosquitoes. Standing water also allows mosquitoes to reproduce.

Natural Repellents

It's very easy to make your own natural mosquito repellent. These natural products will effectively repel mosquitoes, but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every 2 hours) and higher concentrations than DEET. Because of the differences between types of mosquitoes, products that contain multiple repellents tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient. As you can see, natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils.

    * Citronella Oil
    * Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
    * Cinnamon Oil
    * Castor Oil
    * Rosemary Oil
    * Lemongrass Oil
    * Cedar Oil
    * Peppermint Oil
    * Clove Oil
    * Geranium Oil
    * Possibly Oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Basil, Thyme, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic

Another plant-derived substance, pyrethrum, is an insecticide. Pyrethrum comes from the flowers of the daisy Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium.

Things that Lower Repellent Effectiveness

    * Many Sunscreens
    * Dilution from Rain, Perspiration, or Swimming
    * Absorption into the Skin
    * Evaporation from Wind or High Temperatures

Keep in mind that 'natural' does not automatically imply 'safe'. Many people are sensitive to plant oils. Some natural insect repellents are actually toxic. Therefore, although natural repellents provide an alternative to synthetic chemicals, please remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using these products.

3:43 AM | 1 komentar | Read More

Also, Choose Mosquito Bite Victims

Mosquitoes seem indiscriminate  in bite victims. However, real mosquito prefers human blood female. The researchers speculate, mosquitoes like to bite the woman because her blood is sweeter due to the influence of  estrogen.

In addition, mosquitoes also prefer large-bodied person as a victim. Why? In research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine is mentioned, people or a big fat tends to remove heat or carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes more.

Not only men, a woman who weighs big body also becomes a target for mosquitoes. Research on pregnant mothers to prove it. It happens because pregnant women exhaling more carbon dioxide and has a higher body temperature so that mosquitoes can be detected easily.

Another thing to be sought after the mosquito is lactic acid. That is why people who are active outdoors and sweating often bitten by mosquitoes. "Mosquitoes can smellchemical compounds that the human skin removed from a distance of 30 meters , "said Dr. Clifford W. Basset of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York , UnitedStates .

11:17 PM | 2 komentar | Read More

The Earth's Heat, mosquitoes So Dangerous

Global warming is causing climate change not only affects the field of environment and agriculture, but also indirectly impact on public health. The increase in temperature and humidity will affect the increase in diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

Infectious diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and its tendency to increase, among others, filariasis (elephantiasis), malaria, inflammation of the brain due to west nile virus and Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya, and dengue fever.

Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change said in 1996, the incidence of dengue fever in Indonesia may have more than tripled in the year 2070.

The intensity of rainfall increases due to rising air temperatures also result in the increasing number of the volume of stagnant water. In fact, water is the ideal breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquito, the dengue virus spreaders.

"More and more places to breed mosquitoes, increasing the amount of mosquitoes. As a result, the risk of people being bitten and contracting the disease are also getting bigger," said Umar.

To adapt to some impacts of climate change, Omar said there are only two choices, namely to prevent or treat the disease if infected.

"We can reduce the mosquito population and minimize the spread of disease by performing cleaning breeding places of mosquitoes," he said.

Make healthy living habits should also be made, such as hand washing, taking out the trash in its place, and eat nutritious food to improve stamina. In children, Omar also emphasizes the importance of immunization. "Son of the school is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change," he said.

Climate change brings a change in the potential for infectious disease.

11:16 PM | 1 komentar | Read More

Not Effective Mosquito Eradication Nest

To deal with eradication of mosquito breeding dengue fever has not yielded significant for the community. Therefore, new strategy needed to tackle these problems.

"It is not optimum handling dengue unwittingly makes the case of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) return increases," said Chief Medical Officer of West Java in Alma Lucyati Treatment of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Symposium on Children, Saturday (20/11) in Bandung.

Alma said the strategy of relying only mosquito larvae observers feared tough finish dengue cases in West Java. The reason, the handling of dengue fever hit many walls, such as the rapid rate of transport, population migration, and the nature of the people who quickly get bored and complacent.

Health Service data Jabar said the suspect dengue cases in West Java have increased in the last five years. When in 2005 the sufferer 17,488 people per year, five years later this number to 37,861 people per year. Areas with high incidence rates are Cimahi, Sukabumi, Bekasi, Bogor and Depok.

Society should not just be objects, but also subject. How, through antarkeluarga approach, extracting the characteristics typical of a region, and guarantees of local government budgets to finance the process.

"People are expected to have personal responsibility as a way to overcome is the proposal and their own desires," he said.

Professor of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Padjadjaran Azhali Manggus Sjahrodji urged people taking the right medicine to reduce fever in children, including dengue.

11:14 PM | 1 komentar | Read More

Houses for Freedom of dengue mosquitoes

Although you probably already tired of hearing disease dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), but the disease never ceased to threaten the whole family, especially in the rainy season and transition. Before falling victim, we are prevented from now on, especially for the home is no longer a nesting place for mosquitoes.

Medical entomology expert from the Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Dr.Upik Kesumawati Hadi, explaining, identifying mosquito behavior, we can protect your family from mosquito problems.

In addition, the mosquito also likes the smell of human sweat. "That's why mosquitoes prefer to rest at the clothes hanging," he said.

Other locations where mosquitoes around the house favorite is the lush vegetation, ditches, and stagnant water.

Meanwhile, Toton Suhartanto of Indonesian Architects Association explains, ideally building houses have wide openings for air circulation and natural lighting about 20 percent of the house so the house does not become dark and claustrophobic.

"A healthy home is a home that ensures the entry of sunlight into the house," he said in the same occasion.

When you've already built a house or farm house is not possible to create a window on the side, suggested Toton made openings in the roof for light and air circulation more smoothly.

"Note also the slope of the gutter, make sure no sediment or stagnant water," he added.

Other Prevention of mosquito problems can be done by installing mosquito nets in the rooms, using anti-mosquito drugs, install wire netting on the windows or vents, and not to accumulate goods that could be a place of storage of water for mosquito Aides aegypti very fond of the breed in stagnant water. Do not forget to drain and water reservoirs such as scrubbing the tub or barrel.

"Mosquito eggs can stick firmly in the water, even if the water is dry they can still be alive. Therefore, not only drained, but also brushed," said Upik.

My house is socialization Free Mosquito Max will start in February 2011 with the first area visited in the northern. "Along this path the incidence of diseases caused by mosquitoes is high enough," said Hetty Herawaty, Category Manager Baygon Mosquito Anti Burn

11:13 PM | 1 komentar | Read More

6 Steps Home Free Mosquitoes

PT.Johnson Home Hygiene through its newest product Max Baygon cooperation with the Directorate General of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Kemenkes RI, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia and Architects Association, yesterday (31 / 1) launched a national campaign Free Mosquito Max My home in Jakarta and will socialized into several cities.

Here are 6 steps free house mosquito which can be applied to society.

1. Maximize air circulation and natural light

Nature is like a mosquito nest in moist environments, cold, and dark. Because it strived for building houses have air circulation and natural lighting. In addition to windows, use glass tiles, transparent fiber glassblock and can maximize natural pencahyaan in the bathroom or another room.

2. Eliminate stagnant water around the house - All water reservoirs around the house, such as bathtubs, buckets, jars, or pedestal flower pots must be drained to the routine once a week and cover tightly so as not to become places of mosquitoes lay eggs.

- Trash and junk that can accommodate the rain water can be recycled. Also, make sure gutters and gutters free from debris and water is not stagnant water.

- Swimming in the park could be a few small fish as a natural predator of mosquito larvae.

3. Keep your home and environmental cleanliness

- Avoid hanging clothes on hangers in a long time because it could become a convenient shelter for mosquitoes.

- For the sake of health, livestock should be placed separate from the residence or be made a separate cage.

4. Crop plants that are too dense

- Plants that leafy could become a preferred residential mosquito, because it pangkaslah leaves that are too thick periodically.

- Some types of plants such as Lavender, Fragrant Root, Geranium, Zodia, and Basil has a flavor that is hated by mosquitoes.

5. Prevent mosquitoes with mosquito nets or mosquito netting installed in a vent or window.

6. Use anti-mosquito safe.

- Put anti mosquito with a distance of 1.5 meters from the human. - Ensure good air circulation for anti-mosquito drugs, either grilled or spray form, do not interfere with breathing.

11:08 PM | 1 komentar | Read More