
Despite the term, ‘mosquito bite’, mosquitoes don’t actually open their ravenous jaws to have a nibble on your ankles; it is the proboscis (the long pointed mouthpart) that pierces the skin with its razor sharp end, to get to the delicious blood supply beneath. The proboscis has two tubes, one to withdraw the blood and another to deposit saliva. The way in which we react to mozzie bites is dependent on this saliva and the reaction our body has to the proteins it contains.
Reactions to mosquito bites vary enormously; from mild irritation to potentially life threatening, with a contingent of people not reacting at all to them. This is where many people fall fowl of a common misconception; just because you cannot see or feel bites, does not mean you have not been bitten! This is ok in the UK, but as soon as these people leave the sanctuary of British shores they are even more at risk than the normal population, whose bites itch like crazy.
Mosquitoes Developing Resistance to DEET
New Kairomone ‘Camouflage’ Could be the Answer
For many years, DEET has been used as the main way to help repel mosquitoes, to help prevent deadly diseases such as malaria. But current research is showing that this synthetic compound is becoming under threat from DEET-resistant mosquitoes. However, clinically proven Eucalyptus Maculata Citriodora works even better by cleverly camouflaging our unique body smells and deterring those unwanted pests….