Small but terrible is the best description for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes might be considered as one of the smallest animal on earth yet it is the deadliest animal. You may think that it’s a lion, great white shark or a Siberian tiger that is deadly among the list of animals but according to National Geographic the deadliest animal on earth is the mosquitoes. Aside from the nuisance factor, mosquitoes are also carriers of some of humanity’s most deadly illnesses and believe to be public enemy number one against global infectious disease. I know that can be bothersome, as we all know it is very seldom to find a place which is mosquito free - they are found everywhere. Let me lessen your worries by informing you facts about mosquitoes, how we can avoid them and protect our loved ones from the danger of mosquito bites.
Facts about Mosquitoes:
1. Mosquitoes can smell human breath.
-Mosquitoes do not have good vision. But they have receptors on their antennae that detect the carbon dioxide released when we exhale. Those plumes of CO2 rise into the air, acting as trails that the mosquitoes follow to find the source.
2. Only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals; males feed on flower nectar.
-Female mosquitoes need protein for their eggs, and must take a blood meal in order to reproduce. Since males don't bear the burden of producing young, they'll avoid you completely and head for the flowers instead. And when not trying to produce eggs, females are happy to stick to nectar, too.
3. All mosquitoes must have water to complete their life cycle.
-Mosquitoes breed in stagnant, standing fresh water oftentimes found around the home.
4. Sweat helps mosquitoes choose their victims
-Our skin can produce more than 340 chemical odors, and some of them smell like dinner to mosquitoes. They are fond of octenol, a chemical released in sweat.
5. Mosquito- borne diseases cause several million deaths and hundreds of millions of cases every year:
-Mosquitoes can spread deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever and a lot more. Malaria is endemic in 91 countries, with about 40% of the world's population at risk. Dengue is the world's most important mosquito-borne virus disease, with 2500 million people worldwide at risk of infection and 20 million cases a year in more than 100 countries.
6. The bumps from mosquito bites are caused by saliva.
-The saliva results in an allergic response from the victim’s immune system; that’s why your skin gets an itchy bump.
7. Female Mosquitoes is a very light creature.
-It’s no surprise that we don’t feel them when they land on our arm -- an adult female mosquito weighs just 1/15,000 ounce or about 2.0 milligrams.
How To AVOID Mosquitoes?
Recently Gain express has launched a campaign entitled "How to A.V.O.I.D Mosquitoes?" this campaign aims to spread awareness to the public on how to prevent Mosquito Bites. Let's practice "A.V.O.I.D in order for us to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the danger of mosquito bites.
A-VOID
Avoid working or playing outdoors at dawn or dusk
V-ACANT
Vacant baby pools, birdbaths, buckets that can be filled with water.
O-UTDOOR
Outdoor gear, make sure to wear Long sleeves and Long Pants when you are outdoor
I-NDOOR
Indoor secure, make sure windows and doors are closed and screens are well-sealed.
D-EFEND
Defend yourself using Mosquito Repellent such as Ultrasonic Mosquito Repellent.
