But there are better skeeter defeaters than just the palm of your hand.
After all, the ‘slap’ was the cutting edge of mosquito control for our ancestors thousands of years ago. But in this age of high-tech miracles, you’d think we can do better.
And we can!
A Mosquito Bite is About More Than Just the Itch
There’s no question that mosquitoes are annoying little creatures. There’s the incessant whining buzz from which there seems to be no escape when mosquitoes are out in force. And of course, there’s the bite.
The bite that raises an itching welt that tortures us for days. And sometimes that itching welt becomes infected and turns into a bloody sore.
But that’s not the worst thing about a mosquito bite.
Mosquitoes are the prime carriers for many diseases throughout the world – some of them deadly. Here’s just a partial list of the diseases that can be spread through mosquito bites:
- West Nile Virus. This illness is fatal for some, and can cause chronic, life-long problems for others.
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis. This is among the most serious of mosquito transmitted diseases. It kills about 1/3 of those who become infected, and many survivors of the illness are afflicted with permanent brain damage. Fortunately, only a few cases are reported every year in the U.S.
- St. Louis Encephalitis. This illness is rarely fatal, but symptoms often include headaches, nausea and vomiting, fever, and fatigue. Occurs most frequently in the central and eastern U.S.
- Dengue Fever. This often fatal illness is rare in the U.S., but is common in much of the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world, including Puerto Rico and much of Latin America. An estimated 100 million people are infected each year through mosquito bites.
- Malaria. One of the world’s most pervasive illnesses, malaria effects primarily tropical and sub-tropical regions. Half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria through the bite of the mosquito, with hundreds of millions infected every year. In Africa, malaria kills more people every year than any other infectious illness other than HIV.
Obviously, mosquitoes do much more harm than just ruining the family picnic!
The War Has Been Raging for Eons…
Humans and mosquitoes have been archenemies for thousands of years, and the war still rages.
But fortunately, modern technology has gifted us with some very effective weapons for mosquito control. No weapon is perfect, and no form of mosquito control will completely eradicate the little bloodsuckers.
They are a formidable enemy!
The purpose of this website is to explore the range of weapons available in our eternal battle against the mosquito. We’ll explore some of the best tools available for mosquito control, and learn about the strengths and weaknesses of each.
We’ll also spend some time getting to know this tiny insect. After all, the ancient admonition to “know thine enemy” applies to man vs. insect warfare just as readily as it does to man vs. man.
In some ways the mosquito is a rather fascinating creature. And though we may hate it, it deserves the respect that we would give the deadliest of enemies – however grudgingly we may grant it.