There are more than 3,500 species of mosquitoes worldwide and about 200 species occur in the U.S.  Each species is unique and each is attracted by different combinations of sensory stimuli including different spectral frequencies and different by-products of human/animal activity like perspiration.  Research has shown that even miniscule changes in the concentration of these stimuli can have an impact on catch rates.  In almost all cases it is important that stimuli fluctuate rather than be static in order to mimic human activity.

Evolving Technology
Mega-Catch’s™ PRO 900 Series Mosquito Traps have been specifically designed with all these considerations in mind.  Combining proven performance, ground breaking features plus Mega-Catch’s™ patented technology, the PRO 900 Series represents a dramatic increase in trap capabilities.  With the addition of a brand new model, the PREMIER XC, there are now four traps included in the PRO 900 Series line up.  

Technical Advancements
The latest mosquito control technology at the touch of a button!  The Mega-Catch™ PREMIER XC Mosquito Trap, or so called ‘transformer trap’ can attract mosquitoes and other biting insects from as far away as 120 feet. 

Both safe and effective, this state of the art machine employs a sophisticated infrared energy source combined with an integrated LED lighting display, which produces light in the visible and invisible spectrum at oscillating frequencies known to attract most mosquito species.  The XC can be further enhanced with the use of optional attractants; the Mega-Catch™ Octenol fragrance strip, or the Mega-Catch™ 3000 combination lure.  The combination lure, developed by Mega-Catch™ and released in 2010, was specifically formulated to increase capture rates of nuisance mosquitoes including the invasive, disease carrying, Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus).

An optional upgrade kit (sold separately) converts or ‘transforms’ the PREMIER XC to top of the line ULTRA trap specifications, making it Carbon Dioxide (C02) capable.  While Mega-Catch™ Traps don’t need C02 to attract mosquitoes, operation of the patented C02 Gas Attractant System does enable the traps to replicate a key feature of human and animal respiration by releasing or ‘exhaling’ variable amounts of C02  into the air plume.  Mosquitoes then use this air plume to navigate their way to the trap.  Use of this system while optional, can increase the capture rates of a wider range of mosquito species by as much as 300 to 400%.

Sparked by the emergence of diseases in the U.S. like West Nile Virus and Dengue, consumer demand for mosquito control devices has increased along with the number of companies manufacturing mosquito traps.  Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps have some impressive customer feedback, but even more convincing are the test results.

Mega-Catch™ in Malaysia

Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps were developed after an extensive worldwide testing program.  In early 2000 Professor Yap Han Heng from the Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University Sains Malaysia was engaged to advise on and test Mega-Catch™ trap designs in South East Asia. One of the primary objectives was to develop a trap which would attract and capture the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a voracious daytime biter and vector of over 30 arboviruses including West Nile Virus (WNV) and Dengue fever.  Tests carried out in a reserve forest at Minden Campus, University Sains Malaysia in the Penang Island led Professor Yap Heng to conclude that Mega-Catch™ was effective against the Asian tiger mosquito in outdoor  conditions in tropical environments.

Mega-Catch™ in the U.S.

1.Mega-Catch™ out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Pro and Mosquito Magnet® Residential

In 2001 the Mega-Catch™ ULTRA and Mosquito Magnet® Pro and Residential traps were put to the test in central Florida by USDA research entomologist Dr Daniel Kline.  The test was conducted over about three weeks at three different locations; a laboratory, a yard in a residential neighborhood and in a wildlife refuge. The catch varied by location, but the overall result was that the Mega-Catch™ trap captured about twice the number of Aedes aegypti – the yellow fever mosquito – and a larger general variety of other mosquitoes than did the Mosquito Magnet®.

“The studies included in this report were my first opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of the Mega-Catch™ trap,” USDA research entomologist Dr. Daniel Kline wrote. “In most cases, whether baited with CO₂ or not, it caught more mosquitoes than either model of Mosquito Magnet®.”

2. Mega-Catch™ ULTRA out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Liberty, Flowtron®, Dragon Fly, Lentek™, Mosquito Deleto and SonicWeb™

Dr J P Smith (Ph.D., B.C.E. Florida A&M University), J Walsh and R Huss conducted a study in the summer and fall of 2002 on the campus of the John A. Mulrennan Sr., Public Health Entomology Research & Education Center (PHEREC) of Florida A&M University, comparing eight commercially available mosquito traps.

There were significant differences in the numbers and species caught among the eight traps. The Mega-Catch™ ULTRA trap and the Mosquito Magnet® Liberty captured 2.5X to almost 3X more mosquitoes than the next best trap, the Lentek™ mosquito trap and 4X to 6X more than the Mosquito Deleto, Flowtron® PowerTrap and the DragonFly. The SonicWeb™ collected considerably fewer mosquitoes than any of the other traps.

To view the original independent report click COMPARISON OF MOSQUITO SPECIES AND NUMBERS CAUGHT IN 8 COMMERCIAL MOSQUITO TRAPS to go to the Public Health Entomology Research & Education Center (PHEREC) of Florida A&M University website.

Mega-Catch™ in Australia
3. ULTRA out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Pro

A study conducted in tropical Far North Queensland, Australia (Feb, 2004) again compared the performance of the Mega-Catch™  ULTRA which uses a variable quantity slow CO₂ gas release system against the Mosquito Magnet® Pro which produces carbon dioxide via combustion of propane.

Performed by Dr. Scott A. Ritchie, Ph.D. (University of Florida) and Dr. Craig R. Williams, Ph.D. (University of South Australia) the study concluded that the Mega-Catch™ ULTRA caught roughly fifty percent more mosquitoes on average per day than the Mosquito Magnet® Pro.

“The Mega-Catch™ ULTRA Mosquito Trap was the best performing mosquito trap in this study. Its physical design, coupled with the presence of CO₂ and other chemical and thermal attractants, make it highly effective in catching mosquitoes.  In this particular context, it was more successful than the Mosquito Magnet® Pro, which is also a very effective mosquito trap,” stated Dr. Scott Ritchie, Ph.D. University of Florida.

4. Mega-Catch™ Premier & Alpha prototype out-catches Mosquito MagnetÒ Defender

A further study (March, 2004) by the same researchers compared the mosquito catching ability of a series of commercially available mosquito traps including the  Mega-Catch™ Premier, Mega-Catch™ Alpha (proto-type), Mosquito Magnet® Defender, Dragonfly, Flowtron® Mosquito Power Trap MT 200, Lentek™ Mosquito Trap, SkeeterVac® SC1000, Mosquito Deleto 2200 System, SonicWeb™ and Lentek™ Ecotrap.

The Mega-Catch™ Premier Mosquito Trap, even without the use of carbon dioxide (CO₂₎, which had been marketed as the primary consumer standard for effective mosquito control, out-performed eight popular mosquito traps sold in the U.S  that use CO_2. The Mega-Catch™ Premier caught 16,120 mosquitoes over a 12-day period compared to its nearest competitor, Mosquito Magnet® Defender with a total 12-day catch of 5,179 mosquitoes.

About Mega-Catch™:

Mega-Catch™ developed the first eco-friendly mosquito traps.  Safe and non-toxic, Mega-Catch™ traps don’t require the use of harmful pesticides, fogs or sprays to kill mosquitoes.

Mega-Catch™’s patented Variable Quantity Slow CO₂ Gas Release system used in the ULTRA trap was designed to mimic human respiration and has been shown to increase capture rates of most mosquito species by as much as 300-400%.

Mega-Catch™ is a member of the American Mosquito Control Association and a responsible manufacturer who recommends using mosquito traps in conjunction with other sensible control measures designed to manage mosquito problems.

It’s enough to send you storming inside.  And the worst part is that mosquito bites just don’t disappear immediately and you’re left with ugly red bumps that swell and itch, no matter how fiercely you scratch (and you know you shouldn’t), for the rest of the night.

The way mosquito experts tell it, these pests have been a plague on man since Jurassic times and to date we still haven’t found a way to completely rid ourselves of them or their annoying bites.

However, there are things you can do to prevent mosquito bites and treat the allergic reaction when they do manage to slip past your defenses. A little care when you venture outdoors and some judicious applications of medicine, and you will come out a winner.

Follow along now as we delve into the subject of mosquitoes and their quest for human blood.

Why mosquitoes bites

Females are the only mosquitoes that feed on blood, and they do it because they need the protein to help develop their eggs. Without it, the eggs don’t mature to the point that the female mosquito can lay them for hatching.  So while an attack may seem personal, it’s not; it’s simply a biological imperative.

The female mosquito tracks you down by sight, smell and feel. Her head consists mainly of two giant compound eyes able to pick up movement and bright colors from long distances. At 100 feet, she can smell the carbon dioxide you exhale and the lactic acid that gathers on your skin from sweat. A little nearer, and your body heat begins to draw her like the “Hot Doughnuts Now” sign at Krispy Kreme. The mosquito lights on your exposed skin and slides a serrated proboscis into you, searching for a capillary. At the same time, she injects saliva that contains enzymes to dull the pain and keep your blood from clotting. Left uninterrupted, she will draw blood until her abdomen is full.

What do mosquito bites look like?

Those enzymes are the problem.

Your body doesn’t like them because they are foreign invaders, so your mast cells release histamine, a naturally occurring substance which rushes to the site and causes blood vessel to enlarge. Sometimes the body releases too much histamine. The result is mosquito bite swelling, or what’s called a “wheal.” The area around the bite rises turns red and begins to itch.

How much and for how long varies from person to person, but swollen mosquito bites generally are about the size of a dime and last a day or two.  Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that, in some people with extreme sensitivities, mosquito bites can swell to the size of grapefruits and linger for days.

And occasionally, there are people who experience anaphylaxis, a severe reaction to mosquito bites. When that happens, the person’s throat can swell shut, restricting breathing, the person’s skin may break out into hives – itchy red bumps – anywhere on the body, not just at the bite. While rare, the reaction can be life-threatening.

Sweet relief: How to stop mosquito bites from itching

There are a lot suggestions for soothing the discomfort of an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite. Some are common-sense, some medical and some just a little odd. But they all have advocates who swear they work.

Among the suggestions:

• Don’t scratch the bite. That only irritates your skin further and could lead to infection. Give it a light washing with soap and cool water.
• Zap-It!  This nifty, pocket size device has been clinically approved and tested in the most extreme conditions by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.  Clicking Zap-It! several times around the area of a bite has the effect of localizing the poison and inhibiting the histamine release which causes the itch and urge to scratch.  Zap-It! uses no batteries or chemicals and is effective on up to 1000 bites.
• Try calamine lotion. The pink goo, a favorite of moms everywhere, is a mixture of zinc oxide and iron oxide and works as a cooling, all-purpose soother. The Food and Drug Administration declared in the early ’90s that it’s ineffective in treating itches, but doctors still recommend it. You might also try Caladryl, which contains both calamine and an analgesic to help relieve the sting.
• Apply an OTC hydrocortisone cream. The cream contains corticosteroids which will counteract the effect of the histamines and help reduce the swelling, which should give you some relief from the mosquito bite itch. An anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen will also help.
• Use a cold compress or icepack. Histamines dilate the blood vessels, filling the affected area with excess blood. Cold causes the vessels to constrict, so that the amount of blood is reduced around the bite.
• Take an antihistamine. This won’t work immediately, but an OTC medication like Benadryl will prevent histamines from binding with receptors at the blood vessels. The vessels in the bite area return to normal, and the swelling and itching dissipates. Remember, you can take an antihistamine before going outside to minimize your allergic reaction to a mosquito bite.
• Dab on some baking soda paste. For some reason, the Mayo Clinic doctors – and dozens of home-remedy advocates – suggest adding a bit of water to regular baking soda, then applying the paste to the mosquito bite. The reason isn’t clear, but it apparently helps relieve the itch.
• Go homeopathic. Suggestions range from rubbing the bite with the inside of a banana peel, dabbing on toothpaste or vinegar to covering the bite with mud. Dr. Alan Greene, pediatrician and prolific health writer, suggests that some natural anti-inflammatory remedies such as evening primrose oil may also help reduce the swelling and itching associated with mosquito bites.

These are some of the steps you can take in the hours immediately after a bite. But remember, if you start feeling sick in the days ahead, particularly if you feel flu-like symptoms that include neck stiffness, headache, nausea and fever, then it’s possible that mosquito bite left you with something worse than just an itch.  Don’t Delay…..Go to the doctor.

But wait… why not just prevent mosquito bites?

WebMD reports that repeated mosquito bites over a lifetime may help people become immune to the saliva, or can have the opposite effect, making a person even more sensitive.  Who needs them?

The best way to treat a mosquito bite is to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Simple as it sounds, this can be a real challenge, especially during the summer or in warm climates.  Obviously, you’ll want to avoid the places where mosquitoes tend to congregate – which is anywhere near water. If you don’t have to be around swamps, marshes, rivers, canals, lakes and ponds, then don’t. Otherwise, at least get clear of the water from dusk until a few hours after dark, when most mosquitoes are out hunting for blood meals.

Unless you take certain precautions, you may be forced to abandon your own backyard during the evening hours. Get rid of any standing water around the yard because it will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Keep the grass and bushes trimmed so they don’t have resting places. Make sure all your windows have screens, and that they are in good shape, and consider screening in the back porch or deck.

Consider installing a mosquito control device, such as a mosquito trap.  Mega-Catch™make some of  best mosquito traps that work by attracting mosquitoes and then killing them before they get to you.  Set up around the perimeter of your yard, they’re your first line of defense from the little biters.  You can use these mosquito machines in conjunction with citronella candles that are reported to repel mosquitoes and subdued lighting or yellow outdoor bulbs that aren’t as likely to draw hungry insects.

When you do go outside, try to keep as much of your skin covered as possible, and avoid bright colors that will attract the attention of mosquitoes. Use an effective insect repellent like DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus on the bare areas.

Dr Greene also recommend taking vitamin supplements.   Vitamin B1 – 25 to 50 milligrams three times a day will produce a skin odor which is supposed to naturally repel mosquitoes. It takes about two weeks of regular doses for the B1 to become effective.

The bottom line is, that there’s just no way to guarantee that you’ll never feel the sting of a mosquito feeding on your blood. The occasional mosquito bite is inevitable, and that’s how it is. But that’s no reason to suffer and hopefully you can use some of these tips to get a little relief when it happens.

It’s summer and time to get out into the garden and deal to those pests that are attacking your prized plants and crops.  But what about the pests that attack you?  Yes, that’s right mosquitoes!  Unfortunately along with summer comes the buzz AND bite of mosquitoes – and usually in large numbers.  While male mosquitoes are actually sensitive vegetarians, living on nectar and plant juices; beware the female mosquito – she’s after your blood.

Female mosquitoes need the protein found in blood to develop their eggs, and they love to feed on warm blooded creatures, especially humans.  Selecting their next meal is relatively easy for these bloodthirsty biters who use receptors to spot movement, and can detect the smell of CO2 in a person’s breath from as far away as 50 meters.  Activities like gardening that make us sweat and breathe more heavily also make us prime targets.

Repel the Invaders – Spray it On!
Savvy gardeners have been planting geraniums in their gardens and window boxes for centuries, using the natural properties of the flowers to repel bugs. Data now exists that proves the use of geraniums is more than a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Geraniol, a powerful ingredient extracted from geranium oil through a unique refining process, does indeed provide a natural – and extremely effective – insect repellent.  

According to laboratory and field studies by the University of Florida in Gainesville, Geraniol has been proven effective in repelling a wide variety of insects, including mosquitoes, house flies, stable flies, horn flies, cockroaches, fire ants, fleas, gnats, dog ticks, lone star ticks, and no-see-ums.  A range of products including sprays, wristbands and wipes is now available and sold under the BugBand brand.

Light Up
Citronella is another well-known natural mosquito repellent and in addition to lotions and sprays, the oils from the plant are extracted and used to make candles. Unlike a number of mosquito devices which are placed around the perimeter of a yard to attract and kill mosquitoes, candles keep them away from you.  Place candles surrounding the area you want to protect; on your patio, balcony or deck….just make sure to put the citronella candle upwind of you.  And a simple rule of thumb – if you can smell the candle it’s doing its job, if you can’t, light another. One of the newest mosquito repelling candles on the market from Bite-Lite™ contains citronella together with the pleasant aroma of lemongrass and spearmint. 

Foggers and Sprays
Yard foggers and sprays are another way to rid your yard of mosquitoes; however the use of insecticides in agriculture has often been implicated as contributing to resistance in mosquito populations (CDC)   Plus they only create a temporary fix and typically they’re not mosquito-specific; killing everything including bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.

In fact a lot of our summer bugs are actually good for the garden, because they form part of the food chain. For instance many are pollinators, and pollinate our flowers and crops. So if you do spray insecticides, you may end up killing a lot of the beneficial bugs you actually want (and need) out there.

Spraying garlic to keep insects away is not something new; farmers have been doing it for generations.  Mosquito Barrier is a strong liquid garlic spray made from very potent or ‘super garlic’ cloves.  Since mosquitoes are soft-bodied insects, the garlic juice can be very toxic to them in increased concentrations.  However the juice is not harmful to humans, pets or plants – but to mosquitoes it can be deadly.

Attract and Kill
Mosquito traps are quickly becoming a gardener’s best friend.  It’s possible to trap literally thousands of mosquitoes in these mosquito machines without harming the environment, your children, or your pets.  Mega-Catch™ make some of best mosquito traps on the market, they’re eco-friendly and don’t require the use of harmful chemicals, fogs or sprays to kill mosquitoes.  They work by mimicking the smell and characteristics of prey, fooling mosquitoes into sensing a blood meal close at hand.  When mosquitoes get near, a powerful fan sweeps them into the trap’s catch container where they die.  These remarkable traps are an affordable and effective solution for getting rid of mosquitoes on a large scale, for a long period of time.  Because one thing that makes a pest a pest is that they’re really good at re-invading an area; so to get rid of mosquitoes you need to think long term solutions. 

Another way to control mosquitoes is to stop them in the larval stage. Mosquito dunks have proven their worth in eliminating mosquitoes by killing mosquito larvae before they can mature into biting adults.  Float a dunk in the water garden, pond or rain barrel, and every other place water accumulates around your home. 

Choose a mosquito dunk that contains natural Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (B.t.i.).   This is a bacterium toxic to mosquito and black and psychodid fly larvae but completely non-toxic and safe for pets and family.

Don’t Be a Blood Bank
Mosquitoes have well documented color preferences, so gardening gear should comprise of light colors as opposed to dark. And cover up as much skin as possible; wear  long sleeves and pants, shoes and socks instead of sandals and wear a hat to keep mosquito bites off the warm, top part of your head.

Combining these tips with other sensible mosquito control strategies around your home, plus a mosquito trap or two should make for a family-friendly backyard and provide the best overall protection for the constant gardener amongst you.

Mosquitoes love to feed on humans, and selecting their next meal is relatively easy for these high tech hunters with compound eyes capable of spotting the slightest movements and receptors so sensitive, they can detect the smell of CO2 in a person’s breath from as far away as 400 meters.  Lucky for us, those same abilities also tend to lead them straight into mosquito traps.

However any effective mosquito control program should first start with a thorough inspection of the potential battlefield; your yard!   Check for and eliminate any standing water anywhere, in both the obvious and not so obvious places.

1. Eliminate Breeding Sites
If it can hold water for more than a few days, it can breed mosquitoes, and female mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as an inch of water. Just one mosquito can produce 1,200 young and a five-gallon bucket of water has the potential to produce enough mosquitoes to invade an entire city block in a residential community.

• Toys – Make sure the kids pick up after themselves, rain will fill toy trucks, teacup sets, even frisbees left lying in the grass. The same for old-fashioned tire swings, which collect stagnating rainwater, or any old tire left laying in the yard.
• Tarps – Any kind of plastic or nylon cover, whether it is draped over a stack of firewood or a boat, will eventually begin to sag and develop pockets where water can collect. Tighten them where you can and check them frequently.
• Yard equipment – An upright wheelbarrow, an empty flowerpot, even an abandoned shovel or spade can hold water long enough to develop mosquito larvae. Store equipment inside, or turn it over so that rain will run off.
• Birdbaths and paddling pools – Take a hose to the birdbath at least once a week during warm weather to keep the water from stagnating. Turn the kids’ pool over and stand it up against a wall when they aren’t using it. If you have a swimming pool, make sure you clean and service it regularly.
• Puddles – If you have low spots in the yard where water gathers and is slow to drain and  the water stands for more than a week at a time, you’ll get mosquitoes.  Fill in the spots, install drainage pipes, or change the landscaping to keep the water away.
• Rain gutters – Water can back up and become stagnant when the gutters get clogged with debris.  Check the gutters regularly, especially after heavy leaf fall. Also, keep the yard raked. Overturned leaves hold water, and mosquitoes love to breed in them as well.

During the day mosquitoes like to rest in warm, moist vegetation so make sure you keep the grass mown and the bushes trimmed.

2. Personal Protection
When you do go outside, try to keep as much of your skin covered as possible by wearing long sleeves and long pants.  Avoid dark or bright colors that will attract the attention of mosquitoes, and use an effective insect repellent.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing.  When the EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment.

Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, the CDC believes that two have demonstrated a higher degree of effectiveness. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others:

• DEET
• Picaridin

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), a plant-based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

3. Border Control
Before your purchase, compare mosquito traps to find out the best trap for you and your particular situation.  Mosquito traps function best when set up around the perimeter of a yard, attracting mosquitoes towards them, and away from human activity.  Never put mosquito traps near people because that just draws the mosquitoes toward their targets.  Position upwind, in a shaded area (mosquitoes avoid the sun) between the source of the mosquitoes and where people gather i.e. decks and patios.

Mega-Catch™ make some of best mosquito traps on the market.   They work by mimicking the smell and sight of prey, fooling mosquitoes into sensing a blood meal close at hand.  When mosquitoes get near, powerful fans sweep them into the trap’s catch container.  Once in, they can’t get out, and the mosquitoes die.

While these mosquito machines by themselves won’t make your mosquito problem disappear altogether, they can be an integral part in helping make your backyard a safer, more enjoyable space over summer.

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!

Admit it. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as giving that newly landed mosquito a well deserved swat or slap. That is until it disintigrates into a mushy pool of blood on your arm – and you realize it’s your blood!

Not only do you have a fast developing itchy mosquito bite to deal with, you’ve got major blood, guts and gore to clean up as well. 

Amongst mosquitoes, it’s only the female that bites, and she will continue to bite and draw blood until her abdomen is full. If she is interrupted before she is full, she will just fly to the next available person. After filling up, she will give it a rest for two or three days, lay her eggs, then is up and off and ready to bite again.

Testimonial
“Just wanted to update you; the Mega-Catch™ 3000 seemed to get about 50% more than with no lure.  Thanks for all your help & this ultra mosquito catcher is the BEST – it works REALLY well…thanks again”.
Ron Jones,
SC. USA.

University of Florida mosquito researchers are watching with a wary eye as dengue makes a return to the state after more than 50 years. Twenty cases of locally transmitted dengue have already been confirmed in Key West.  And Monroe County officials have issued a health alert and launched an education campaign urging residents to eliminate water sources in and around their homes where mosquitoes can breed.

 The last big dengue epidemic in Florida in 1934 left more than 25,000 Floridians ill, which is why health officials are currently urging residents to take appropriate precautions now. 

Read more about home  mosquito control and how to get  rid of those possible breeding sites to avoid a yard full of biting insects and reduce the risk from the diseases they carry.

PREVENTION:

Start by devising an effective DIY mosquito control program which incorporates a proven trapping system to reduce mosquito numbers, personal protection in the form of repellents, and a proactive approach to reducing and eliminating mosquito breeding sites around your property.

Elimination
The first step in reducing mosquitoes on your property is to identify and eliminate all sources of standing water including low spots, ditches, and gutters. 

Mosquitoes will breed in anything that holds water, including many everyday items such as a child’s toy, plant saucers, buckets, garbage can lids and pet food dishes.  All easily overlooked items!  

During the day, mosquitoes love to rest in tall grass or amongst shrubs in a moist, shady spot. Keeping the grass short and bushes trimmed deprives them of a resting place. Rake up any fallen leaves as well.   An overturned leaf can hold enough water for a mosquito’s eggs, as well as give them a place to wait out the day.

Trapping
Let science help solve your mosquito problems.  Today’s mosquito traps are smaller, more effective and surprisingly affordable!  A consumer favorite, the Mega Catch™ Ultra has outperformed many competing traps in independent tests, thanks to its unique, propane-free, CO₂ system.   Combining proven mosquito-attracting science in a simple to operate, user friendly design the Ultra gives coverage of up to 1.5 acres and is designed to operate with or without Mega-Catch’s™ patented ‘Variable Quantity Slow CO₂ Gas Release System’. 

The optional CO₂ system has been designed to enhance trap performance by increasing the range and capture rates (by as much as 300-400%) of a wider variety of mosquito species and other biting insects.
                    
Repellents
Bear in mind that repellents do not protect all users equally. The effectiveness of a repellent depends on the mosquito species that is biting as well as the age, sex, level of activity, and attractiveness (to mosquitoes that is) of the human using the repellent.

In general, mosquito repellents work by masking the chemical cues that invite mosquitoes to dine.  For over 50 years scientists believed that DEET worked by inhibiting signals from the mosquitoes’ antennae making it hard for them to find their target.  However researchers at the University of California Davis have since discovered that mosquitoes actually smell DEET and stay away from it.  Walter Leal Professor of entomology UC Davis concluded that DEET doesn’t mask the smell of the host or jam the insect’s senses – mosquitoes simply don’t like it because it smells bad to them.

Despite rumors and anecdotes of everything from banana peels to garlic tablets warding off mosquitoes, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend only three types of repellents for safe and effective use:

1.         DEET
2.         PICARIDIN by Bayer (marketed as CUTTER ADVANCED)
3.         OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS (marketed as Repel)

TREATMENT:

It’s not possible to eliminate every single mosquito. So if you are unlucky enough to get bitten by a rogue mosquito, whatever you do, don’t scratch the bite – no matter how good it feels.  It can take up to two days before the itchy bump or wheal appears, and scratching it will just break the skin which could lead to infection. Wash with soap, run cool water over the bite, and be guided by the experts.

- Calamine lotion or Caladryl.  A combination of zinc and iron oxides reported to have a soothing effect on itchy skin. Caladryl also contains a mild topical analgesic for pain.

- Icepacks.  The cold constricts the blood vessels, which helps reduce the swelling, and numbs the skin to lessen the discomfort.

- Ibuprofen or hydrocortisone cream.  Both will work to reduce swelling, and hydrocortisone also is widely used to soothe itching.

- Anti-histamines.  Any over-the-counter medication such as Benadryl should help the itching to subside

Some people, although this is rare, can have a serious reaction to mosquito bites, which results in swelling in the throat, significant hives and wheezing. This life-threatening condition (anaphylaxis) requires immediate medical attention.

You CAN help reduce the number of biting incidences for everyone (pets included!)  with an effective DIY mosquito control program.  As they say, prevention is the best protection.