Who hasn't experienced it in summer? You want to spend the evening on the terrace, but a few mosquitoes quickly join you and can ruin your evening. Mosquitoes can also cause sleepless nights if they sneak into your apartment at night and buzz next to your ear.
Tropical mosquito species now in Germany
First, we have some facts about mosquitoes. There are around 50 different species in Germany. These include, for example, the common mosquito or the house mosquito. Most species are harmless, but more dangerous species of mosquito, such as the yellow fever mosquito, Asian bush mosquito or tiger mosquito, have now found their way to Germany via imports. The pregnant female mosquitoes are particularly dangerous , as only these suck blood. Pathogens are transmitted through the bite. Unfortunately, this can transmit malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, the Zika virus or West Nile fever.
What actually attracts mosquitoes?
The belief that mosquitoes are attracted to light is not entirely true. Depending on the type of mosquito, they are active at different times. Some are active during the day, at night, or at dusk . Since the light is usually switched on at dusk, many people think that mosquitoes are attracted to it. However, most mosquitoes are active at dusk, which is why this misconception occurs. Mosquitoes are so-called nose animals , which means that they orient themselves by people's body odor and the carbon dioxide they breathe out. This would mean that even if the lights are off in the evening, mosquitoes will find their way into the home through the open window . Mosquitoes can also smell body sweat, because the body secretes butyric acid, lactic acid and ammonia, which attract mosquitoes.
Keep mosquitoes out of your apartment or house
The best way to keep mosquitoes away is with fly screens . These don't look particularly nice in front of the window, but they can be a great help if there are a lot of mosquitoes in the area you live in. A shower can also provide short-term relief . This temporarily removes the smell of sweat that attracts mosquitoes and reduces body temperature. Very strongly perfumed shower gels and very sweet perfumes should be avoided. A fan can also be helpful because it stirs up the air and the mosquito doesn't know exactly where the scent is coming from.
Keep mosquitoes away from the garden
To keep mosquitoes out, it is a good idea to cover your arms and legs . Light-colored clothing is better than dark clothing, as dark clothing attracts mosquitoes. Watering cans, rain barrels, and bird baths should also be cleaned regularly , as simply emptying them is not enough, as mosquito larvae can survive when dry. To avoid mosquito larvae, rain barrels should be compacted so that larvae cannot settle. If there is a pond in the garden, frogs can be used as natural enemies. Otherwise, the larvae should be skimmed off. In general , unnecessary accumulations of water should be avoided. Certain plants also keep mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes do not like the smell of tomato plants, rosemary, catnip, lavender, mint, lemon balm, lemongrass, and lemon geranium . An insider tip: light ground coffee in a fireproof bowl. This not only drives away mosquitoes, it also smells delicious of coffee.
Chemical mosquito repellents
In addition to home remedies, there are also chemical alternatives. Mosquito sprays from the drugstore can keep mosquitoes away. It is important to use them regularly, as the effect wears off after about four hours . The drugstore also sells plugs for the socket or anti-mosquito spirals that can be lit outside.
What to do about mosquito bites?
If none of the tips help and a mosquito still bites, you must act quickly. It is best to cool the bite quickly . Creams with antihistamines or hydrocortisone prevent the bite from swelling. As well as creams, there are also home remedies that can help reduce itching and inflammation. Half an onion or a slice of lemon have a disinfecting, cooling and soothing effect thanks to their acidity. Apple cider vinegar and a mixture of honey and baking soda or St. John's wort oil relieve the itching. If a bite does become inflamed, curd cheese helps because it has an anti-inflammatory effect . A heated spoon or hot water also helps against the mosquito venom because at temperatures over 45°C the protein is destroyed and the itching is also relieved. But caution is advised with the latter! This method should be carried out carefully to avoid scalding!
We hope that in the best case scenario the mosquitoes stay away and the mosquito bites heal quickly with the home remedies!
