Pesky mosquitoes

JUL 01 -

No one in the world likes mosquitoes. They bite. They leave itchy spots. They carry diseases ranging from malaria to West Nile virus. Even dogs and birds hate them.

But you know all that. This article is not a defence of mosquitoes but an effort to explain why they exist at all. About 2,700 species of osquitoes span the globe from the Sahara to the tropical forests of Brazil. Some like to feed at night. Others prefer morning meals. Many species bite people and animals, using the protein in the blood to reproduce. Some feed only on flower nectar. One species, Toxorhynchites, or predator mosquito, eats other mosquitoes.

Entomologists have discovered that mosquitoes, despite their annoying habits, actually do some good for the environment. Male mosquitoes, for instance, eat honeydew, which is the gummy stuff—aphid excrement—that covers trees in the summertime. Think what a sticky place the world would be if male mosquitoes weren’t cleaning it up!

Besides blood and honeydew, mosquitoes also eat plant nectar, which allows them to convert sugar into energy to fly. Like bees and other insects, mosquitoes pollinate plants as they collect their nectar. Entomologists have collected mosquitoes whose bodies were covered with pollen grains that could be traced to more than 30 species of flowering plants.

Mosquitoes are probably much more important as pollinators of wildflowers than we realize. In the Arctic, for example, mosquitoes are the main pollinators of bog orchids. As waterborne larva, they eat algae and bacteria. Drastically reducing the number of mosquitoes could trigger an increase in the populations of other annoying gnats and biting flies, so mosquitoes are essentially pest management specialists. 

Mosquitoes also play an important role in the food chain, and while removing them might not decimate other insect and animal populations, they’d be sorely missed. Baby mosquitoes make great fish food. In fact, you generally will not find mosquito larvae in places where fish or frogs live. Mosquito larvae and pupae are a feast for many kinds of fish and insects such as dragonflies. Adult mosquitoes provide food for huge numbers of insect-eating bats and birds like Purple Martins and swallows.

Yet many people would prefer they go and be useful somewhere else, so how do we keep them away from our homes and gardens?

You know the standard suggestions: empty all the stagnant pools of water, cover your water tank and get rid of all the water around your home. But with so many lakes becoming polluted, rivers slowing down because of dams and water bodies full of algae—which mosquitoes love—it is inevitable that these pests will stick around. However, there are some tips to keep them away from you and your home without using chemicals.

Smell is an important sense for mosquitoes trying to find a person or animal to feed on, so scented repellents are the best. Citronella candles made from the essential oil of citronella grass, a close relative of lemongrass, are quite effective. In fact, any lemon-scented herb will work—lemon verbena, lemon-scented geranium, lemon balm—as well as strong-scented herbs like lavender, rosemary and basil.

To release those essential oils, you must rub them onto your skin or burn the oils. One little plant won’t serve a large area, so you should have lots around your house, placed where people will rub against them as they walk past.

Pennyroyal, in the mint family, repels ants and mosquitoes successfully when it is rubbed onto the skin. Its creeping habit makes it an ideal groundcover, particularly in those areas that are partially shaded.

Likewise, mosquitoes will keep a distance from basil (tulsi). Basil may be planted by the back door or grown in a pot on a kitchen window sill. Brush the plant with your hand every so often to release the fragrance, which you will enjoy and the flies and mosquitoes won’t.

Some people rub catmint on the back of their necks and wrists when they work in the garden. I take the seeds of the Morpankhi plant, as most villagers do, and rub them on the back of my hands. Lemongrass applied to the ankles, wrists and the back of the neck just before dusk keeps them at bay in the evenings. Try to avoid wearing perfumes or scented deodorants, as they tend to attract mosquitoes.

Indoors, try placing the scented geranium Pelargonium citrosum Vanieenii—which has a good reputation for warding off bugs— near doors and windows.

Some Nepalis burn an herb called Loban on coal, but a spray can also be made containing three parts lemongrass or citronella, one part thyme, two parts lavender and one part peppermint or eucalyptus. Mix the herbs together in a new plant sprayer, shake the mixture and dilute with water, if desired. This mix is both pleasant in scent and safe to use around kids and pets. 

Colour is another deterrent. White works best against mosquitoes because darker colours—especially blue denim jeans—tend to attract insects. Many insects are attracted by the colours blue and yellow, so avoid wearing these if possible. Mosquitoes are more attracted to women than men, as well as people who eat a lot of sugar. Always shut the doors and screened windows before dusk. 

In the event mosquitoes are not repelled effectively, many herbs can be used to relieve the itching from bites. Dab freshly washed bites with lemon juice or cider vinegar. Before bedtime, rub lavender oil or cinnamon oil onto the affected area.

While even pesky mosquitoes serve a purpose in the grand scheme of life, your skin will thank you for taking the proper measures to keep them far away.


Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/01/oped/pesky-mosquitoes/356431/