Thanks to Dracula, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight, vampires are hot and popular.  However there is one little bloodsucker that will never be welcome; our old foe and original vampire – the mosquito! 

In the animal world, blood-feeding insects and mammals really do exist. Many insects like ticks and fleas as well as mosquitoes, feed on blood. Protein, the building blocks of all cells, is found in blood, and it is the protein in blood that mosquitoes require before they can produce and lay a batch of eggs.

However, human beings are not the only blood hosts that mosquitoes attack. These bloodthirsty insects are also known to feed on horses, cows, cats and dogs, as well as birds, lizards, fish, bats and even caterpillars for a blood meal. 

While mosquito bites are typically just itchy and annoying, it’s the potential to make us sick we fear the most. Mosquito-borne diseases are among the world’s leading causes of illness and death today. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 300 million clinical cases each year are attributable to mosquito-borne illnesses. Some of the more deadly diseases include; malaria, West Nile virus, chikungunya fever and dengue fever.   In countries where disease is rampant, mosquitoes are regarded as public enemy Number One.

Global warming, climate change and international air travel have all aided and abetted the mosquitoes’ global march and triggered a worldwide outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases. “Many diseases are ‘highly sensitive’ to climates and climate temperatures, and malaria and dengue fever can be expected to spread to new areas.”  John Holmes, the United Nations undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and disaster relief told WorldNetDaily, (Dec.17 2009).

In 2009 the threat of swine flu sparked a panic and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic.  Meanwhile, another global public-health threat proliferated virtually ignored: dengue fever. Forty years ago, the disease struck only nine countries; it is now endemic in more than 100. While the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that swine flu had killed 11,749 people as of December 2009, the WHO reported that “explosive outbreaks” of dengue hospitalized half a million people last year.  Globally, 2.5 billion people live in areas where dengue viruses can be transmitted. Dengue is carried by two mosquito species; the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Both these mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and lay their eggs on the sides of any water-filled containers. 

Because there are still no vaccines to protect against many mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend preventing the bite as the best protection and advise taking the following precautions:

• Wear long pants and shirts and spray exposed skin all over with insect repellents like DEET before leaving the house,
• Limit outdoor activity around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active,
• Place mosquito netting over infant strollers and carriers,
• Keep bushes trimmed and grass mown around the home; and
• Use screens and mosquito netting to keep mosquitoes outside. 

Another way to reduce backyard biting incidences and the potential for disease transmission is to decrease the number of mosquitoes, using mosquito traps.  

The best mosquito traps employ a wide range of stimuli to attract mosquitoes.  This is an important factor in the case of daytime biters like the yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes who rely not only on visual, but chemical and other cues to find their targets. 

Unfortunately there is no single solution that will rid you entirely of the little bloodsuckers.  Mosquitoes evolve over time to adapt to the climatic environment and against any chemicals used to control them, and the emergence of insecticide-resistant strains of mosquitoes has become an increasing problem worldwide.  However a good mosquito trap can be a pretty effective weapon to use in an open space like a backyard – because the best method of controlling mosquitoes is to stop them breeding. And two of the most effective methods of achieving this are:

(a)    removing all of their most popular breeding sites – standing water, however little, anywhere; and

(b)   daily trapping during the season – to interrupt breeding cycles, reducing mosquito populations.

So to keep the biters at bay, prevention is by far the best protection, wherever you live, because somewhere in the world it’s summer and those vampires of the insect world are out to get you.  While there’s no risk of turning into a vampire yourself overnight; it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to contract a serious, sometimes fatal disease.

“When talking about climate change, we are not talking about something which is a future threat. We are not talking about something which may or may not happen in 50 years time, or 20 years time. We are talking about something which is happening now in terms of the effects of climate change on peoples’ lives now…” John Holmes, the United Nations undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and disaster relief told WorldNetDaily, (Dec.17 2009).

Climate is an important factor in all sorts of things that our health depends on. The Global Humanitarian Forum claims that 300,000 people are already dying each year because of climate change induced malnutrition, diarrhea and malaria as well as extreme weather events. Rice yields are known to decline by 10 percent for each additional 1 degree celsius rise in temperature, and salmonella bacteria like hotter weather as do mosquitoes.

Predictions are that hotter summers and milder winters will lead to an increase in mosquito-borne diseases. “Many diseases are ‘highly sensitive’ to climates and climate temperatures, and malaria and dengue fever can be expected to spread to new areas.” says Holmes.

Dengue fever occurs mostly in tropical and subtropical countries in Asia and Latin America but also affects countries like Australia (Queensland) and the United States (Puerto Rico, Texas-Mexico border, Hawaii and the US-affiliated Pacific Islands). In 2008 and 2009, severe dengue epidemics were reported in Mexico, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina. And in early 2009, Queensland experienced its worst dengue outbreak in 50 years with more than 1000 people infected and one woman killed. The spread throughout regional cities including Cairns and Townsville was so rampant, experts held a dengue summit, summoning experts from all over the world.

Dengue is spread by two mosquito species; the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Both these mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and lay their eggs on the sides of any water-filled containers. However the Asian tiger is more cold-tolerant than Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and can spread more easily. The Asian tiger mosquito is a disease bearer or ‘vector’ of over 30 arboviruses including West Nile virus, various strains of encephalitis and Chikungunya fever, making it the most significant nuisance mosquito worldwide.

Because there are still no vaccines to protect against many mosquito-borne diseases, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advise that preventing the bite is the best protection. People should limit outdoor activity around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, wear long pants and shirts and spray exposed skin all over with insect repellents like DEET before leaving the house and keep bushes trimmed and grass mown round the yard to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Another way to reduce biting incidences and the risk from disease is to decrease the number of mosquitoes using mosquito traps. EnviroSafe Technologies, manufacturer of Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps, engaged Professor Yap Han Heng from the Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University Sains Malaysia to advise on, and test trap designs in South East Asia. One of their primary objectives was to develop a trap which would attract and kill the Asian tiger mosquito.

What seems to make these traps particularly effective is that they employ a wide range of visual stimuli to attract mosquitoes. This is an important factor in the case of daytime biters like the yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes who rely, not only on visual, but chemical cues, to find their targets.

Unfortunately there is no single solution that will rid you entirely of the little biters. However, a good mosquito trap looks like a pretty effective weapon to use in an open space like a back yard – because the most effective method of controlling mosquitoes seems to involve stopping them breeding. And two of the best ways of achieving this include:

(a) removing all of their most popular breeding sites – standing water, however little, anywhere; and
(b) daily trapping during the season – this will interrupt breeding cycles, reducing mosquito populations.

Global warming and climate change will mean an increase in overall temperatures and rainfall, which in turn means more mosquitoes. “You don’t need to be a scientist to work that out,” according to Mega-Catch™ general manager Michael Bremner. “Trap sales are up on the same period last year, in fact, existing customers are buying a second, or third trap in order to keep up with bumper mosquito crops,” says Bremner.

Few in the US would argue that the typical “mosquito season” appears longer than in previous years – mosquitoes are hatching earlier and staying around longer as the first frost is delayed. Given that mosquitoes remain active until temperatures drop below 50 degrees, ongoing precautions are essential. Because, just one bite is all it takes to transmit disease – and as the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Don’t let Mosquito Trapping ‘Fall’ Away

Mosquitoes, universally regarded as a summertime pest, are also known to thrive in the fall, transmitting a multitude of diseases in the process.  In fact mosquitoes remain active until temperatures drop below 50 degrees; which isn’t until late fall in most regions of the United States. With summer winding down, don’t get caught out. Females lay their eggs every three days in standing water, and a single female mosquito can lay thousands of eggs during her life time. And those eggs can have a ‘shelf life’ of up to a year, before hatching.   So those mosquitoes you leave buzzing around now are producing potential offspring that could be back to bite you come next spring.

Cold temperatures kill adult mosquitoes, including their larvae, however global warming is already having an impact, with the increase and spread of mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases being recorded worldwide. Just one bite is all it takes to transmit disease, so ongoing precautions are essential, especially in the fall.

Mosquito traps, when used in conjunction with other sensible mosquito control measures are one of the best ways to keep a yard clear of nuisance mosquitoes. While they won’t permanently eliminate mosquitoes in the area, and no responsible manufacturer should claim otherwise, when set up properly, just one or two mosquito traps can kill thousands of  the little biters, significantly reducing the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) or any other mosquito-borne disease.

Bite Prevention the Best Protection against West Nile Virus

Carried by birds and spread by infected mosquitoes, WNV has killed hundreds of millions of birds and infected more than 29,000 people in the U.S. since the first reported outbreak there in 1999.  Now over halfway through the 2009 West Nile season, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) thus far has reported  82 cases in 20 states and 3 confirmed fatalities.  Unfortunately there’s no vaccine for West Nile virus – although research is currently underway to develop one.  The CDC advises preventing the bite is the best protection.

Eliminate Potential Mosquito Nurseries

Getting rid of breeding sites around the home will help reduce the health risks associated with mosquitoes.  They don’t need much; an inch or two of water that has collected in a child’s toy, a flowerpot, or an old tire. Stagnant pools, birdbaths and fountains are another mosquito favorite.  

Mosquito Traps Kill Thousands

So to minimize your mosquito problem, for this season and the next, devise an effective mosquito control plan using the best available strategies, including mosquito traps.  The effectiveness of mosquito traps does vary from brand to brand and location to location.  Mega-Catch™ traps have been independently and scientifically tested and seem to be far superior to the rest at doing what they claim – effectively attracting and killing mosquitoes.  As an added bonus they also deal to biting midges (no-see-ums) black flies and sand flies, all without the use of insecticides, fogs or sprays.