Beware of Mosquitoes - Because It's Better to Prevent Than to Cure!

Here is the second episode of this special mosquito stopover! In the first installment, we uncovered the secrets behind the mosquito and its criteria for selecting victims.

But what can you do to avoid mosquitoes? What are the different repellent solutions? Which ones really work?

How to Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes?

Before rushing into the race for anti-mosquito products, certain simple preventive measures should be adopted. No mosquitoes ... No bites! Keeping mosquitoes at bay is the first step!

10 Good Anti-Mosquito Habits

Maintain good personal hygiene.

Avoid fragrant soaps.

Wear loose, covering clothing.

Wear light or neutral colored clothing.

Avoid beer.

Set up a fan.

Check the condition of your mosquito nets.

Add a mosquito net over your bed.

Avoid being outdoors without protection at dusk.

Avoid sleeping near freshwater or moist areas.

Maintain good personal hygiene.
Avoid fragrant soaps.
Wear loose, covering clothing.
Wear light or neutral colored clothing.
Avoid beer.
Set up a fan.
Check the condition of your mosquito nets.
Add a mosquito net over your bed.
Avoid being outdoors without protection at dusk.
Avoid sleeping near freshwater or moist areas.

Bonus: Prevent proliferation! Eliminate all stagnant water areas to eradicate mosquito breeding sites. You can also use larvicidal products.

Repellents: Chemical Solutions

Many products exist to repel mosquitoes and prevent their bites, varying in effectiveness and health safety. Let's start with anti-mosquito molecules, keeping in mind that these chemical solutions are not without human effects.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends three:

Icaridin: a highly effective molecule against mosquitoes and numerous arthropods; some find it more pleasant to use than DEET because it is odorless.

IR3535: whose full name is equally cumbersome and I will spare you from, is also an effective anti-mosquito molecule, but apparently less so than the other two.

DEET: undoubtedly the most known among travelers, and according to WHO the most effective ... but also the most controversial regarding its toxicity. DEET is effective against mosquitoes, but also ticks, fleas, and other biting insects.

Icaridin: a highly effective molecule against mosquitoes and numerous arthropods; some find it more pleasant to use than DEET because it is odorless.
IR3535: whose full name is equally cumbersome and I will spare you from, is also an effective anti-mosquito molecule, but apparently less so than the other two.
DEET: undoubtedly the most known among travelers, and according to WHO the most effective ... but also the most controversial regarding its toxicity. DEET is effective against mosquitoes, but also ticks, fleas, and other biting insects.

Notes on DEET

The concentration level of DEET does not affect its effectiveness, but rather its duration of effectiveness! Thus, a 10% DEET will protect you for a maximum of 3 hours, while a 30% DEET will provide protection for up to 6 hours.

At very high concentrations, DEET is a plastic solvent that can damage synthetic fabrics. Always remember to wash your hands thoroughly after each use!

The concentration level of DEET does not affect its effectiveness, but rather its duration of effectiveness! Thus, a 10% DEET will protect you for a maximum of 3 hours, while a 30% DEET will provide protection for up to 6 hours.
At very high concentrations, DEET is a plastic solvent that can damage synthetic fabrics. Always remember to wash your hands thoroughly after each use!

Note on Duration of Protection

Regardless of the components of your repellent, containers often boast a long-lasting effectiveness. However, in reality, this largely depends on external conditions: sweating, rain... will decrease the product's efficacy. The average duration of the product is around 4 hours.

I recommend applying it especially at dusk, a prime time for mosquito attacks.

In addition to these three chemical solutions (available in spray, cream...), the market offers a variety of items designed to keep these biting insects away. Let's take a brief overview of the >.

Anti-Mosquito Objects

Mosquito Net

It takes up little space, is inexpensive, and provides good protection for peaceful nights. Often provided when traveling in at-risk areas, it is not essential to bring your own.

DIY Tip: use tape for any holes!

To increase effectiveness, you can spray it with repellent.

Anti-Mosquito Bracelet

Its effectiveness is debated, as its limited repellent effect does not protect the entire body (although you can apply it, in addition to the wrists, on the ankles, shoelaces, bag... essentially, stick it anywhere you'd like!).

Two bracelets stand out: Pikpanou and Para'iko, which use essential oils for their repellent product.

Insect-Repellent Clothing

More and more in hiking supply stores, you can find clothes infused with chemical insecticide. I tested it in Scotland, and my pants didn't seem to bother the midges...

Burning Coils

Those based on pyrethroids are quite effective (and toxic!). We routinely use them when traveling by boat, and they work well if you are in close proximity to the coil.

Candles

Rather than lemon grass, I recommend those made with geraniol, which are said to be five times more effective.

The Breathing Lamp

More aimed at home than travel, the Ina Trap lamp is a lamp that traps mosquitoes. To attract them, it can simulate human breathing by emitting carbon dioxide!

False Solutions

Solutions that do not work (well):

ultrasonic devices
vitamin B1
electric rackets
glue strips without insecticides
blue light lamps
lemon grass (the plant is indeed avoided by mosquitoes, but the protection for humans is quite weak)

Gentle Methods

Plants

Do you have a garden? A terrace? Window sills? Why not take advantage of them by adding a few plants that mosquitoes don't appreciate?

Mosquitoes dislike citrus scents, such as lemon grass, but also:

lemon thyme (which grows even in winter),
lemon balm (similar to mint, but smelling like lemon and resistant to frost),
small-leaf basil (different from the basil we usually cook with).

Other plants, without having that citrus scent, also have a repellent effect on mosquitoes, including:

scented geranium (especially the lemon one),
Neptune plant,
lavender,
and tomato (yes!).

Essential Oils

Essential oils, are you familiar with them? Used as alternative medicine, each essential oil has its own virtues. I am becoming increasingly interested in them, and their effectiveness is often surprising!

Against mosquitoes, I recommend these 5 essential oils:

geraniol,
lemon eucalyptus (which may offer similar protection to DEET!)
lemon grass,
lavender oil,
geranium,
peppermint (my personal favorite essential oil!).

You can apply them to various areas of your body, or diffuse them in your room before nightfall. While traveling, you can also add them to your shower gel or body cream, as well as applying some to your nightwear and sheets.

There are also pre-made mixtures specifically for mosquitoes, available in various forms (oils, sticks...), which you can find at pharmacies. And you can also mix them yourself to create your homemade repellent.

I've discovered that there is also incense made from essential oils, reputed to be equally effective, for those who prefer this format.

Gentle Methods: Conclusion

For or against, it's up to each person to decide! What is clear is that you must consider the risk and especially the region of the world you are in. I wouldn't experiment with alternative methods in the middle of the jungle... But that's just me!

A little info on duration: natural products have a more limited action time, requiring more frequent applications to remain well protected.

And in the Future?

What does the future hold in terms of gadgets to keep mosquitoes away? Here are three answers:

Preventing Mosquitoes from Urinating!

Researchers have studied mosquito behavior (in an effort to eradicate dengue) and discovered that before biting, mosquitoes will urinate. Their idea is to try to prevent mosquitoes from urinating! To do this, scientists have identified the protein in the mosquito's kidney that controls urination, aiming to disable it chemically. Research is still ongoing...

A Repellent that Stinks!

Other ongoing research is based on the mosquito's sense of smell. Its antennas are equipped with hundreds of smell receptors, giving it exceptional olfactory abilities. Hence the idea to create a repellent that would be unbearable for mosquitoes (and less harmful to humans than DEET)!

The Undetectable Patch

Have you always wanted to play at being invisible? Well, now it's possible... or almost (only for mosquitoes in fact!).

Kite Patch is a patch (logical!), that you put on your clothing offering effective protection for 48 hours. Non-toxic, it can be used by pregnant women and children. Developed as part of the fight against malaria by an American company, the principle of this patch is to block mosquitoes' ability to detect us. The compounds in the patch specifically inhibit the mosquito receptor used to sense carbon dioxide. Field trials are scheduled in a few months in Uganda. Commercialization of the patch will follow... so just a bit more patience!

This concludes the second special mosquito stopover.

Key Takeaways?

Many solutions exist, starting with adopting good preventive habits!

DEET is effective, but super toxic.

Regular lamps, lemon grass, bracelets, ultrasonic devices, vitamin B1, sticky strips without insecticides... have negligible effectiveness or too limited to be truly effective.

In the future, mosquitoes may suffer from urinary retention and anosmia!

Many solutions exist, starting with adopting good preventive habits!
DEET is effective, but super toxic.
Regular lamps, lemon grass, bracelets, ultrasonic devices, vitamin B1, sticky strips without insecticides... have negligible effectiveness or too limited to be truly effective.
In the future, mosquitoes may suffer from urinary retention and anosmia!

To Be Continued

In the third installment: What to do in case of a bite? Why does it itch? How to relieve itching? What are the dangers of a mosquito bite?

And I finish with a thought for all those who have spent sleepless nights tracking down the mosquito playing hide-and-seek in the room:

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito in your room.

Beware of Mosquitoes - Part 2: Because It's Better to Prevent Than to Cure!