By Anja Opitz
Every year the same whining: why do these nasty little bloodsuckers have to spoil our summer? Make every trip to the lake and forest into a wild hit or sting, rob us of our sleep at night with their humming? What helps against the mosquito plague?
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There are around 3,500 species of mosquitoes worldwide, and 50 of them have been detected in Germany so far. The bad news: Global warming is also making tropical species of mosquitoes native to us. In mid-July, biologists from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute and Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) discovered six adult tiger mosquitoes in the Vogelsang allotment garden in Treptow. The species is originally native to Southeast Asia – specimens have now been recorded in Berlin for two years in a row, and permanent settlement is to be feared.
The good news is: Only half of the animal piercing suckers are dangerous for us. The males feed on nectar and other sugary plant or fruit juices. Only the females sting, they need blood to supply their eggs with protein.
Biologically understandable, still annoying – but fortunately avoidable:
► Fly screens in front of windows and doors: So the mini-vampires don’t even come into the apartment. A mosquito net over the bed provides additional protection and is particularly useful for children.
► Aromatic plants on the balcony and window sill: Mosquitoes are repelled by the scent of tomato, mint, geranium, lavender, eucalyptus and lemon.
Geraniums need a lot of sun to form a lot of buds Foto: picture alliance/dpa
► Avoid standing water: That’s where they lay their eggs! So don’t leave water in rain barrels and other water containers for too long when you’re not using them.
► Verqualmen: Incense spirals and incense cones are suitable for outdoors. The smoke drives away the mosquitoes.
Sweet blood sucks, but…
► Shower regularly: Mosquitoes use smells as a guide. The ammonia contained in sweat as well as the butyric and lactic acids have a particularly attractive effect on them. Those who shower regularly have fewer problems with the pests. Avoid perfumed shower gels.
► Put worn socks next to the bed: Experiments have shown that mosquitoes find the smell attractive.
► Eat low fat: That mosquitoes like “sweet blood” is a myth. However, they prefer to sting people with high cholesterol levels.
► Avoid beer: French researchers were able to prove that beer drinkers are stung more often.
You can save the money for these supposed technical anti-mosquito aids:
According to Stiftung Warentest, ultrasonic devices and UV lamps have no effect. The reason: Mosquitoes do not react to light, but also to smells!
Stiftung Warentest also advises against biocide vaporizers that distribute insecticides in the air. Although this works against mosquitoes, it can be harmful to the health of people and pets.
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