A mosquito bite can transmit a virus. A simple sheet keeps these insects away.
- Three species of mosquitoes are the majority in France: Aedes, Culex and Anopheles.
- The tiger mosquito is recognizable by the black and white stripes it wears.
- It has been present since 2004 on French territory.
A painless bite, a button that appears and annoying itching: it is difficult to escape mosquitoes. To prevent them from biting us, we must take a few precautions: long, loose clothing, close the windows when we turn on the lights at night or use repellents. But to spend a peaceful summer without mosquito bites, there is another solution, simple and economical.
Attract mosquitoes to better trap them
You need a sheet of A4 paper, 75 grams of sugar, 3 tablespoons of honey, water and three pieces of string. First, you have to make a syrup by cooking the water, honey and sugar over low heat for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the sheet into three strips, lengthwise. Then, brush each of these strips with the honey-sugar-water mixture. Using a pair of scissors or a toothpick, make a small hole at the top of each of the strips to pass the piece of string through. Then you just have to hang these strips near the windows. The sugar will attract mosquitoes and flies as well, and they will stick together.
The importance of protecting yourself from mosquitoes
If the bites are unpleasant, protecting yourself from mosquitoes is above all a way of preserving your health. Some species can spread viruses, which cause infections severe. Mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, also called tiger mosquito, transmit chikungunya, Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, yellow encephalitis or even Nile fever. In some areas, these diseases are endemic. In this case, additional protective measures are necessary. L’Health Insurance recommends wearing light, covering clothing, such as long-sleeved tops and pants, with closed shoes, and putting skin repellent on bare parts. A mosquito net should also be placed in the bedroom.
Elimination “at the source”
Not all mosquitoes bite: only females do. “The sting occurs after mating, once the female has been fertilizedprecise ANSES. The blood taken during the sting constitutes a source of proteins to allow the development of the eggs. But these insects also feed on the nectar of flowers. The laying is done in places where there is water, such as gutters, vases, full watering cans, etc. To protect yourself, you must also act at the source and eliminate all stagnant water present in the gardens.