Mosquitos are basically tiny little vampires, sucking out your blood and sometimes leaving behind a high risk of illness or death. Legend says that garlic repels vampires. Does it also repel mosquitos?
While the rumor that garlic repels mosquitos is based on tradition rather than superstition, many people are not convinced. Is garlic a good mosquito repellent, or is this belief far-fetched as tales of vampires?
Read on to learn whether this common mosquito belief is myth or reality.
Summertime means sunshine, backyard barbeques… and mosquitos. Oh, you forgot about the mosquitos, did you? The cold months of winter may drive these blood-sucking pests from your mind, but not from your yard!
If you are searching for ways to keep away the mosquitos, you are not alone. Many people—from anonymous internet posters to scientists like entomologist Susan Paskewitz – have proposed interesting ways to ward off the bugs.
These ideas range from the mundane to the bizarre. One of the most popular theories is that bananas have an effect on your attractiveness to mosquitos, either for good or for bad.
What do you think? Have you heard of this rumor? Do you think bananas will prevent mosquito bites, or cause more mosquitos to swarm you? Whatever you think, you may be surprised to learn that even the experts have not come to a consensus on this.
However, there is evidence that bananas likely have an effect on how many mosquito bites you get. Wondering whether to avoid or eat bananas this summer? Read on to learn what myth and science have to say!
Mosquitos are bad news, and not just because they’re dreadfully annoying. Believe it or not, mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest animals to humans, thanks to the many diseases they carry. Whether or not you live in an area with a high risk of malaria, chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, or Zika virus, it’s a good idea to prevent mosquito bites by arming yourself with mosquito repellent.
But what repellent really works? We all know that DEET is an excellent mosquito deterrent, but many people are wary of over-using this chemical-laden spray. Are there alternatives?
There are alternatives to DEET mosquito repellents, but their effectiveness is doubtful.
You may have heard of using vitamins B1 and B12 to repel mosquitos. These oral supplements are natural, easy, and far less stinky than traditional mosquito spray, but do they work? Read on to find out.
Read moreDoes Vitamin B1 or B12 Supplements Prevent Mosquito Bites?
Mosquitoes are all abuzz in the news lately. The little buggers may look innocuous, but certain species can make you seriously ill, especially in tropical locales.
Worldwide, mosquito-borne diseases account for millions of illnesses annually.
While we usually associate these kinds of things with steamy, equatorial jungles, there are actually a surprising number of mosquito-borne illnesses found all over the United States as well.
You may be wondering…”am I in danger?”.
If you live in or will be traveling to a mosquito hotspot, you definitely need to arm yourself with some information.
Let’s discuss the most common diseases carried by mosquitoes, how they’re transmitted, and how to protect yourself at home and abroad.
Read more13 Different Types of Mosquitoes and Diseases They Spread
Moths do not eat mosquitoes. Indeed, there are several types of moths, including the beautiful pale green luna moth, that do not eat at all. When they hatch out of their cocoons they expel their digestive systems, mate and die.
Mosquitoes can ruin a mid-summer’s day walk and wreak havoc on a relaxing canoe trip. All of a sudden, you feel that tiny, stinging sensation on the back of your arm or leg.
By then, it’s too late; your blood has become a meal for one happy mosquito. An itchy, red welt quickly appears, and then soon fades away.
But mosquitoes are not just annoying pests to be swatted away. They have actually earned the reputation of being one of the deadliest creatures in the world.
Several dangerous, life-threatening diseases are directly spread from person to person through mosquito bites.
When mosquito bites, viruses like Zika, West Nile, malaria, and many others are given a direct route to a person’s bloodstream.
Summertime brings warm weather and welcome sunshine. Unfortunately, it also means the return of pesky, flying insects.
Clouds of tiny black insects may seem to follow you, swarming around your face as you stroll along a wooded trail.
Wispy mosquito-like insects flock to your back porch light after dusk. Mosquito bites turn a relaxing fishing trip into misery.
How much do you know about gnats and mosquitoes? Have you ever paid attention to those bothersome bugs before you swatted them away? Should you try to kill them, or are they actually helpful to the environment?
Let’s take a closer look at each one to see how alike (or different) they really are.