You Say Tomato I Say Mosquito

Gathering tomatoes or other fruits of the garden might not sound like a dangerous occupation, but with terrorism running rampant these days, even a walk thru the garden can require pre-emptive measures. In fact if you left the screen door open for a minute or so and heard a whiny frequency accompanied by a slight tickle it may already be too late, if that slight tickle was the allergic reaction of your skin cells to the Culex, Aedes or Anopheles mosquito, one of the several species that prefer humans, and are capable of transmitting microbial organisms to living cells.

Every year two million people die of malaria, which is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, but most of those deaths occur in Africa. In the U.S. malaria is considered rare, but the West Nile Virus is on the move.

The West Nile Virus is two millionths of an inch wide, smaller than most viruses. Viruses occupy a special taxonomy position in that they are not plant, animal or prokaryotic bacteria, and should not even be considered organisms because they are not free-living. (They cannot reproduce with out a host cell.)

The West Nile Virus has been studied for decades but did not arrive in the US until 1999. It is most similarly assocciated with other viruses that cause encephalitis, (inflammation of the brain), and it is highly fatal to avian species, corvids, mostly non-migratory birds distinguished by same sex characteristics. The West Nile Virus is also fatal to horses although there is a two-dose vaccine available for horses. It is not known when a vaccine will be discovered for humans or birds, so the best method of dealing with the virus is through avoidance. The West Nile Virus is past on to its animal host through the saliva of the female mosquito at the time of injection. The female mosquito needs a blood meal to complete reproduction, and pass on proteins to her offspring. The male mosquito does not eat blood but lives only on nectar and fruit juices.

Avoiding mosquitoes can be a big problem if you're an outdoors person unless your companion is more susceptible to mosquito bites than you are. Some people attract more mosquitoes than others. (They must have a better bloodline.) Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as one tablespoon of water which hatch and become adults in as little as seven to ten days. Finding all the water sources in which they can breed is next to impossible, but eliminating the obvious places will help. (Rain gutters, bird baths, flower pots etc.) In order to avoid mosquitoes it helps to know how they find you. They use sensors on their antenna to pick up body heat, odor and carbon-dioxide from exhaled breath to find their meal. That's why black-light traps do not really work well, (mosquitoes use thermal imaging, not ultra violet). The female mosquito will work her way upwind zigzagging back and forth to the sources of these bodily cues. As she gets closer she uses colors and moisture in the air to close in on her target. British researchers found that mosquitoes would respond to animal bodies up to forty-five feet away. Mosquitoes become inactive when temperatures drop below forty-five degrees F or above eighty-two degrees F or when wind speeds are higher than six meters per second.

Some repellents are very effective at binding the mosquito sensory antenna. Repellants composed of heavy irregular shaped molecules work best. They block the pores of the sensory hairs of the mosquito antenna forcefully changing the mosquitoes point of view, causing her to fly past a living target. Area repellants like candles and incense with citronella have been proven effective at averting mosquitoes and even a plain wax candle can work as a decoy to trick mosquitoes. One of the best and most familiar repellents is a chemical product called Deet, which was developed by the USDA and patented by the US Army in 1946 and then registered in 57 for use by the general public. It is a broad spectrum repellent targeting many different insect pests, however one thing that might not be so well known is that Deet should not be used in conjunction with any other insecticide containing Permethrin as it can cause severe cellular damage according to Duke Universities Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.

One of the most interesting, and recent repellants I have discovered while researching this article is the use of a common perennial herb or weed called catnip. Researchers at Iowa State University and the US Forest Service released information in 2001 on the effectiveness of nepetalactone, an essential oil found in catnip that works 10 times more efficiently than Deet although they say nothing about its duration comparison. Iowa State had submitted a patent application for the use of catnip compounds for insect repellents and commercial products are already available to the general public, (although I do not know if that means that thorough testing on humans or animals were completed). Caveat Emptor. Obviously cats will be meowing all over the neighborhood once these products become popular. (Skeeter-free, Natures Herbal, Natural Herbal Shield are a few). Some companies may be cheating the law by not calling there products a "Repellant", so as to bypass FDA regulations.

You may want to try mixing your own concoction of catnip repellant. It's available at nurseries and in the wild if you know what it looks like. Catnip was introduced to the US from Europe in the late 18th Century, and has been used for seasoning and teas for years. It is thought to have many healing properties among them help for (inducing sleep, migraine headaches, fevers, sedative, fatigue, restlessness, pain killers, improving circulation and symptoms associated with the flu.) It is also high in vitamin C. Catnip was also called the "Hang-mans Root" and was used by early American colonial executioners to put them in the mood before an execution. In England it was used to flavor beer because it cost less than hops. Over the years their have been many other plant-derived repellants to combat insects such as lavender extract, cedar wood, neem oil, Rosemary, peppermint geranium, lemongrass and others.

As far as electronic devises sold to repel insects, be sure the experts who tested these devices were not on the companies payroll, or be careful of which expert you listen to. Some of these products do more damage than good. In May 2001 the FTC sent warning letters to 60 companies selling these devises, warning them not to make claims without scientific evidence. In August 2002, Lentek International was charged by the FTC, for making false claims that their electronic mosquito repelling devices, repel mosquitoes. (WWW .ft c.gov/opa/2002/08/lentek.htm)

One proven method that partially worked for my dad when I was growing up, was the nightly mosquito hunt. Each night before bedtime the five of us kids were assigned a rolled up newspaper and a room, and we could not go to bed until every mosquito in the house was extinguished. It worked 90% of the time and gave the walls and ceilings that natured texture look. The funny thing bout it was the other 10% of the time the mosquitoes only got dad.

Mosquitoes play an important role in the food chain, mostly in their larvae and pupae stages, transforming algae, bacteria and organic matter into meals for fish and other aquatic creatures and wading birds etc. and it would not be beneficial to eliminate all of them.

Last year out of 830 reported human infections, 27 were fatal. In November 2003 a bio Technology Company called Acambis started the first human clinical trial of a West Nile Virus vaccine. So far it has performed well in hamster, mice, monkeys and horses. Most cases of the disease occurs in the elderly and others with impaired immune systems, there have been cases of transmission through blood transfusions, and organ transplants. In most cases those who have West Nile Virus do not even know they have it. A few will develop flu like symptoms 4 to 10 days after the infection, and a rare few will develop encephalitis.

Copyright Jim Burnell 2005

Sources:

University of Ca. Publication 7451

Author: Bruce Eldridge, Dept. of Entomology, and UC Davis

Catnip as a Mosquito Repellent

Author: Jeffrey s. Hoard

National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy

Dept of Health and Human Services

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Grow your own mosquito repellant

Author: Ann Lovejoy

Integrated Pest Management of Alaska

Iowa State University Extension Fact Sheet

Mosquito

Iowa State University

Joel Coats, Entomology

Brian Meyer, Agriculture Communications

Jim Burnell is a carpenter/cabinet maker and small business owner with a lifetime of varied hobbies from boat building to studying Zeno?s paradox. Currently he is studying the effects of catnip on mosquitoes and other insects, the testing and raising of certain beneficial insects in the garden and in captivity, and simplifying certain gardening procedures in transplanting and cloning. For links to his other articles, journals and ideas he can be reached at his website: http://www.spreadtheworld.blogspot.com

Mosquito Netting Canopy - Your Best Defense

When traveling or enjoying outdoor activities such as camping, there is the risk of being exposed to mosquito bites and the potential diseases that they carry. Wearing clothes that cover your entire body and applying insect repellent will decrease the risk of being stung, but the safest, simplest and most effective way to control mosquito bites is to use a mosquito netting canopy.

Guidelines

When purchasing a mosquito netting canopy, it is important to be well-informed. Mosquito netting can be made out of two types of material, polyester and cotton. Polyester is a good choice as it is lightweight and longer lasting than cotton. Cotton netting can be more comfortable, but it is less durable. Cotton is not water-resistant and can stretch if it gets wet; it also becomes heavier and tiresome to carry. However, for a long stay in a tropical area, cotton netting would be preferred due to its comfort level. Mosquito netting canopies, whether made of polyester or cotton, come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and thickness of thread.

Further Protection

To increase the efficiency of a mosquito netting canopy, and therefore maximize your protection against insect bites, it is recommended that the net be sprayed with a top-quality insecticide, such as permethrin. The effectiveness of a pre-treated canopy can last up to one year. It is possible to spray it yourself with an insecticide from the local hardware store, but a pre-treated canopy is always a safer choice. The standard amount of insecticide used is usually 350-500 milligrams per squared meter. The main advantage of a mosquito netting canopy sprayed with insect repellent is that if the netting becomes torn or damaged during travel, the repellent still offers some protection against pesky insects.

Are Mosquito Nets the Safest Alternative?

According to studies done by Clive Shiff, a prominent malaria expert at the John Hopkins School of Health, a mosquito netting canopy can play a major part in keeping travelers and campers safe from mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria. Shiff was a major player in an experiment that provided mosquito netting to 20,000 families with children in Tanzania. All the participating children received anti-malarial drugs. The control group slept without any netting canopy protection, and the treatment group slept with a net canopy. At the end of the 6-month study, the results indicated that the primary symptom of malaria, which is anemia, was 50% less common in the treatment group than in the control group.

Other numerous field trials carried out in Kenya, Gambia, and Ghana showed that child deaths from malaria could be reduced considerably if a mosquito netting canopy was used during sleep and resting hours.

Unicef has put a plan into effect that will help provide mosquito netting canopies and indoor residual spraying to people living in malaria-prone areas. It is their hope that the number of cases of malaria infections will be reduced by 50% by the year 2010.

Karen Foster is the content manager and editor for Tiny Mosquito: Understanding the Mosquito. For more information about mosquitoes and the West Nile virus visit her site at http://www.tinymosquito.com

Best Mosquito Repellent

Have you ever owned an electronic insect repellent? If you had, did you have it long enough to enjoy all the benefits? Many persons haven't tried them because they think they do not work. For those of you who go camping as frequently as I do let me assure you that investing in an electronic insect repellent will be cost effective and a good alternative to spray repellent.

Information always makes things clearer. Let us look at the three main reasons why anyone should have an electronic insect repellent.

Firstly, it is not as harsh on the body as spray repellents. As a matter of fact, it does not even come in contact with the body. I agree with you that the sprays work very well, I won't dispute that, but I also want to inform you that the electronic repellent does a better job, and all you need is a battery.

Secondly, you save money when you purchase the electronic repellent because you only need to change the batter once per year. It is very quiet, you won't even know when the device is running. For persons who have an allergy to spray repellent this is an excellent alternative especially in camping surroundings.

Finally, there is no smell like when you use the spray. After showering at camp, for example, you won't have to worry about sprays and those annoying bugs.

Stop and think about these reasons. Evaluate the pros and cons and use them for good measure. If you have time to think, you will realize that there are good reasons why you should try to own an electronic repellent. Are you convinced?

In all seriousness, examine the reasons. Do you find the reasons to be practical? Don't these conditions apply to you? Maybe you really need to get an electronic repellent?

R. Jacquez Has been writing articles for three years now. His Newest interest is in Flea control, so make sure you visit his newest website where he gives you all the information you need to get rid of those pesky fleas.

Lemon Tea Tree Beeswax Candle - Natural Mosquito & Insect Protection

Lemon Tea Tree ( Leptospermum petersonii ) has the bacteria fighting strength of the common Tea Tree plant along with a wonderfully clean, fresh lemon scent. Its aroma is similar to the fragrant Lemongrass oil, but lighter.

Lemon Tea Tree is reputed to have extraordinary power as a NATURAL insect and mosquito repellant!

Highly recommended for protection against mosquitoes and insects. Be safe and healthy this summer with this NATURAL outdoor fragrance that does not contain any DEET (which is known to have toxic side effects).

LEMON TEA TREE BEESWAX CANDLE: Make your own Lemon Tea Tree beeswax candle to use outdoors on those long, slow summer evenings!

Recipe for one candle: Fill the inside of your candle container with beeswax pearls. A 4" round X 2.5" deep tin or terra cotta bowl is ideal.

Pour the beeswax pearls into a large glass measuring cup that sits inside of a large pot that's been partially filled with hot water. Heat the pot of water on the stove until the beeswax pearls melt.

Remove the glass measuring cup with melted beeswax from the pan. Cool slightly before adding 60 drops of Lemon Tea Tree pure essential oil. Gently stir the mixture with a sterile stainless steel spoon. Pour the Beeswax infused with Lemon Tea Tree oil into your candle container and allow to cool for 4 hours before using.

SYNERGY BLEND: For a pleasing synergy blend 30 drops each of Lemon Tea Tree and Lemongrass pure essential oils and add to your melted beeswax.

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and may produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.

KG has developed massage training and holistic health programs for the spa industry, health clubs and clinics, schools, resorts, as well as for individual clients. She is a MindBody Therapist and Health Educator with advanced certification and training in Bowen Therapy, BodyTalk and Aromatherapy. She is the owner of Springhill Wellness Center and the Founder & Director of PurePlant Essentials aromatherapy products.

Click to order: http://kgstiles.com/moreinfo/lemonteatree.htm - LEMON TEA TREE PURE ESSENTIAL OIL

Click to learn about & order http://kgstiles.com/moreinfo/lemongrass.htm - LEMONGRASS PURE ESSENTIAL OIL

Click to learn about KG's other fine aromatherapy products
http://www.kgstiles.com/pureplantessentials.html PUREPLANT ESSENTIALS

More Info? Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315 Mahalo!

Mosquito Products: Are They Safe for our Health ?

There are plenty of mosquito products we can use to get rid of these nasty insects. Some of them are effective some are not. I guess we all own one of these mosquito products at home, but have you ever wondered how they work or are they hazardous for you health? So lets see what kind of mosquito products are out there and how safe they are.

Mosquito products could be classified in two categories based on their purpose. So there are in the first category are the mosquito products that kill the insects and in the second one we've got the products that repels mosquitoes. The products grouped in these two categories there are indoor and outdoor mosquito products.

To understand how these mosquito products work we must understand what attracts mosquitoes. So when humans and animals exhale, they give off CO2 (carbon dioxide) and other scents. Mosquitoes have sensors that can detect the presence of these chemicals at a distance of over 100 feet. Once the mosquito picks up the scent, they will immediately change direction and fly rapidly toward the intended victim. So the purpose of mosquito products would be either to attract and kill the insect or to deceive its senses.

In the fist category of mosquito products would be bug zappers and mosquito magnets. An electric bug-zapper works by attracting insects to a central ultraviolet light, surrounded by a lethal electrical grid so when the mosquito touches that grid gets burned. The best in this mosquito products category, would be the old mosquito magnet the most high-tech (and expensive) weapon in the homeowner's arsenal of mosquito products, made by American Biophysics Corporation. It uses propane to emit carbon dioxide, just as people do, which is one of the things that helps mosquitoes find you. Once mosquitoes are lured to the device, they are sucked into a trap where they dehydrate and die. So these would be about all the mosquito products that have the purpose to lure, trap and kill the mosquitoes.

In the second category of mosquito products are the repellents. They work by blocking the receptors on mosquitoes antennae for the: moisture, warmth CO2 (carbon dioxide) and odor produced by humans that are all attractants for mosquitoes. Even if it is a spray or an ointment the best repellent is DEET.

DEET (diethyl toluamide) was developed in Orlando in the 1950s and contains a synthetic chemical repellent. The mosquito products marketed today contain various concentrations of DEET some of them even to 100 percent witch is not so good for your skin. Mosquito products containing 5 percent to 7 percent DEET keep mosquitoes away for up to 2 1/2 hours.

Citronella, which is also part of this second mosquito products category, is a volatile, liquid oil derived from dried cultivated grasses. It works by repelling animals and insects without harming or killing them. It has a distinctive odor, which also repels certain animals. Oil of Citronella is considered so unlikely to cause harmful effects that some citronella products are exempt from the usual regulation. The mosquito products containing citronella come in the form of candles, cartridges, and rub-on products.

These would be the most important mosquito products available on the market today some of them effective some less effective but I think that the most important thing is weather they are safe for you, your family and your loved ones.

Raul Gallu is the author of http://control-home-mosquitos.blogspot.com

- a website full of information for those who got tired of mosquitoes and wanna do something to get rid of them.

Buying Mosquito Nets - What You Should Know

Mosquito nets are useful in the prevention of malaria and other diseases carried by insect bites. Mosquito nets can be used in the house, in the garden, during a jungle safari and anywhere else where you might find mosquitoes, insects and creepy crawlies.

There are a few things you should keep in mind when deciding to buy a mosquito net.

Size and Shape: You can find mosquito nets of varying sizes and shapes. There are small mosquito nets to cover a baby car seat and then there are large mosquito nets to cover an entire outdoor gazebo. You should select the appropriate size and shape for the purpose required. If you are looking for bed net to ward of mosquitoes while you sleep then a six foot dimension mosquito net is good for king size bed. You also have to choose the shape of the mosquito net - a ceiling hanging net or a net attached to the four poles of a bed post. The shape and size need to be considered carefully for effective use. Standard mosquito nets has holes of 1.2mm x 1.2mm and that is the best option.

Color: Machine made polyester mosquito nets comes in several colors with white being the most common. You might want to select the appropriate color to blend in with your home for aesthetic reasons.

Treatment: Most nets sold nowadays are pre-treated with insecticides for better protection. This is a good thing. You can also find untreated nets but you are better off having a pre-treated mosquito net for better protection.

Composition: You have 2 choices - cotton or polyester netting. Cotton nets are heavier when wet, gets dirty faster and are not as long lasting as the polyester netting.

Now that you understand the different options and varieties between mosquito nets, it should be easy to find the right net to suit your needs and protect your family from disease carrying insects.

Suthep Sachasiri operates the Better Mosquito Nets store where you can find quality mosquito nets for the home and travel at low prices. A percentage of every sale is donated to charities to help fight malaria in Asia and Africa.

Avoiding Mosquito Bites

One of the best ways to keep mosquitoes from getting the bite on you is to avoid being the main attraction at your local mosquito theme park in the first place. Understanding a bit about mosquito behavior can help avoid calling unnecessary attention to yourself.

Mosquitoes identify their targets by sight, heat and smell. Avoid physically active movement (exercise, ball games, yard work, etc.) during peak mosquito hours to keep them from noticing you from a distance.
Peak mosquito times tend to be right around dusk and dawn. Reduce outside lights in the evening hours (use yellow bulbs, if possible).
Wear light colors during the daytime, as dark clothing during daylight hours actually attracts the little buggers. According to one report, mosquitoes prefer blue and green so you're better off wearing yellows, reds and oranges.
Mosquitoes are attracted to perspiration, heat, carbon dioxide, and lactic acid. All of these are produced after exercising, so avoid outdoor exercise during peak mosquito hours (at dawn and dusk). Our bodies also release lactic acid after eating certain foods, so avoiding outdoor dining during those hours is helpful, as well. Commonly believed mosquito-attracting foods include bananas (or other potassium-rich food items), and salty foods.
Avoid perfumes when outside. Using hand creams and lotions with a sweet scent can also increase your risk of attracting mosquitoes, so go for the unscented varieties during mosquito season. Try using unscented soaps when showering, too. Even though they're rinsed off, the scent remains on your skin and attracts bugs.
Keeping a barrier between yourself and mosquitoes is a simple and natural way to avoid bites. Be sure to wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors at dusk, or in areas with an especially high concentration of mosquitoes (woods, swamps, hiking trails). And use screens in all your home's doors and windows during summer months.

Several gardeners assured me that planting marigolds, scented geraniums (rub the leaves on your skin too), rosemary, catnip, peppermint, spearmint, daisies, verbena, spike lavender (not the sweet French variety), basil, thyme, garlic, allspice, cedar, and lemon grass around the yard naturally repels insects. Decorating with eucalyptus is also rumored to be helpful. You can make your own insect-repelling sachets by drying the flowers and leaves from the above plants and placing them into small, hand-sewn cotton bags.

Eliminate Their Breeding Grounds

The first step in avoiding the bite is to eliminate the local mosquito population at its source. Mosquitoes use stagnant water for their breeding grounds, so drain any collections of stagnant water found in your yard, neighborhood or workplace.

Keep your eye out for these sources of standing water:

discarded tires

roof gutters clogged with leaves or other debris

rain barrels

wading pools

drainage ditches

paint buckets

tin cans

paper cups or other discarded trash

trash containers

infrequently used yard equipment

plant containers

bird baths

broken toys

pet water bowls

holes in tree stumps

If your kids want to play in their wading pool, be sure to dump the water out at least once a week and turn the pool upside down when not in use so rain doesn't collect in it. And if you want to keep your birdbath and pet's outdoor watering bowl, be sure to clean out the water at least two times each week. If you have an outdoor fish pond with goldfish or amphibians, the fish will eat the mosquito larva so you won't need to drain the fish pond.

Deborah Taylor-Hough (free-lance writer and mother of three) is the author of several popular books including Frugal Living For Dummies(r) and Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month. To subscribe to her free email newsletter, Simple Times, send an email to: subscribe-simple-times@hub.thedollarstretcher.com Visit Debi online and read more articles dealing with simple living, frugality, parenting and much more: http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/

Home-Made Mosquito Repellents

Over the decades since the Second World War, we have come to depend on chemicals rather than natural products. Chemicals were more powerful and more easily obtainable. This is nowhere more true than in the sphere of insect repellents. DEET was developed just after the war and developed for use by the United States army for jungle warfare. DDT was used widely on crops around about the same time.

In the post World War period, chemicals seemed to be more effective and cheaper. What more could anyone wish for? But regulation was not so strict then and governments and manufacturers got away with a lot. DDT was later banned, although it has made a come-back of sorts. DEET is still the most often used insect deterrent, although there are worries now about the daily use of it.

This is why there is a trend back towards the old fashioned techniques of controlling insects and in particular, mosquitoes. Governments have let us down in the past and they will continue to do so, until we can elect people who care about us and the natural world more than they do about themselves and their wallets. Perhaps it was always a fabrication that politicians went into 'public service', but one thing is for certain, we do not get much service for our money any more.

Consequently, if you do not trust chemicals, what do you do? The way I see it, you have to go back to old-fashioned ways. Those that have been used forever. Let us have a look at some of the natural ways to deter insects, with particular regard to mosquitoes.

Eucalyptus oil is an old-style mosquito repellent. You can either use eucalyptus oil from a bottle, manufacture your own, or rub the fresh leaves on to your bare skin. As with all natural remedies, you will have to repeat the process frequently. DEET will remain effectual for about four or five hours, but natural repellents will only be effective for about one hour.

Chrysanthemum seed husks are well-known to include a smell or chemical that mosquitoes cannot abide. This deterrent may be tricky to track down, but it is about. It is called pyrethrin and is made from the plant of the same name, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium, by its Latin name. As a point of interest, permethrin, one of the most widespread insect repellents is a synthesized spin-off of pyrethin.

Mosquitoes hate anything that smells like lemons to them. I have phrased it in that way because some products, like shampoos, may smell like lemons to us, but maybe they do not smell like lemons to mosquitoes. Anyway, some of the natural products that smell like lemons to both us and mosquitoes are: lemon grass, citronella and, surprise surprise, lemons, but there may be others.

You can utilize any of these three plants to good effect against mosquitoes. Citronella or lemon oil are likely to be the easiest to get hold of. In any case, you could try some shampoos or soaps 'containing lemon juice' until you find out which ones really work. The fact is that it does not matter what is written on the label, mosquitoes will let you know by their absence.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on quite a few topics, but is currently concerned with natural mosquito repellent. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at Mosquito Repellent For Dogs.