The worst enemy of man & how to beat it

Even with all the power of modern world, we still haven't defeated our greatest enemy yet. It kills more people than any other cause. More men die fighting it, than in any war. This deadly, undefeatable killer is - A Mosquito.

Mosquitoes are the greatest killers to ever exist on earth

These tiny bugs are extremely effective in killing humans. I believe that there is no human, now or in the history of our species who never got a disease from a mosquito in their lifetime.

Let's talk about some of the diseases they cause, their types, and what steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe. And no guard, or security system can stop the world's most effective serial killer.

The 3 most dangerous mosquitoes in India are:

• Anopheles

• Culex

• Aedes

They have 3 pairs of legs, wings and their tummy (Abdomen). The buzzing song that mosquitoes play to wish you good night, isn't a result of them trying out their tiny mouths at karaoke, but is the sound of their wings flapping.

Before becoming adults, they go through egg, larva and pupa stages, and these need water. So water plays an important part in their population to thrive. (CUE - To not store water unattended for too long).

Anopheles mosquito

They have spotted wings and carry dangerous diseases like:

• Malaria

Culex mosquito

These are terrible pests and we gave them the title of "Nuisance mosquitoes" . They carry diseases like:

• Filariasis (Elephantiasis)

• Japanese encephalitis (Yes, it happens in India too, not just Japan)

• Viral arthritis

Aedes mosquito

Tigers of the insect world. They have white stripes on a black body, and so are aptly named "Tiger mosquitoes"

They carry diseases like:

• Dengue

• Chikungunya

• Yellow fever

As they cause millions of deaths, they need to be killed. And like any good contract killer, we need to know the habits of our target.

Habits of mosquitoes

What they eat

The male mosquitoes, eat plant sap, and never bite humans. It's the ladies who are out for blood and they are the ones who bite. Yes, not only is the greatest killer of men smaller than a candy, It's also female. (Women empowerment, here!)

Jokes aside, they need a blood meal to lay eggs and that's why female mosquitoes bite us.

Their afternoon naps

As their dinner time is after sundown, during the day, they like to rest in dark and cool corners of your house, upper part of walls, behind pictures or clocks and under the furniture. Some mosquitoes are more free spirited, so they hang around in plants and trees, wells, even on cattle.

Their childhood home

They grow up on water. Anopheles like a collection of clean water like lakes and ponds, Culex is a dirty boi and loves polluted water like sewage, and Aedes likes artificial collections of water- inside your room coolers or buckets filled with water.

How far do they travel

Usually, mosquitoes have a range of about 11km from their breeding ground and they don't travel farther. Homesick, eh?

Lifespan

They usually live between a week to a month. Their females outlive the males, just like ours do.

How to fight back

Environmental control

Don't let them breed. Destroy their breeding place.

• All places where water collects around your house, can be drained, filled or levelled.

• The water can be made unsuitable for mosquitoes, by adding salt to it or a layer of oil over the water.

• If culex are the problem, cover or clean cesspools, ditches and sewage.

• If aedes are the problem, empty cans, coconut shells, water coolers, buckets etc should be kept empty and if such a container that may collect rainwater is there, it should be discarded.

• If anopheles are the problem, their breeding grounds should be taken care of in the same way.

• 2 fishes - Gambusia affinis and Lebister reticulatus can be let introduced in sewage collection places, farm ponds, places where water collects, these fish eat the mosquito larvae, so destroy them before they get a chance to grow up.

Insecticidal sprays

You can get insecticides sprayed in your locality- DDT, parathion, malathion

!(Warning- Get this done through a professional only)!

Personal protection

• Mosquito nets are the best protection - as they can easily be used, in open or inside the house. They not only protect from mosquitoes but also, from other insects.

• You can use mosquito repellent creams like Odomos.

• Get your home protected by getting screening nets installed at all windows so mosquitoes, or any other insect is denied entry.

We hope we were successful in showing how to defeat the enemy and reveal their secrets. Share with others if you liked it.

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