General Discussion & Chat: Blood Donation Camp .. of a different kind!, 1 by Dinu

Dinu wrote:
I have noticed that if they are left alone for sometime, they don't seem to attack later. If you swat one, then the pheromone in it attracts more. It appears that the CO2 we emit also attracts them. Methinks I read this in some article. These skeeters can detect its source of food - they look for the protein in the blood - from as far as 20 feet.

Malaria is a problem but it does not affect everywhere as Anopheles is not found everywhere. Chikungunya is causing problems lately.

Repellants are available, but I use them only when after the rains they are more abundant. Other times, it is manageable. Stagnant water is what breeds the mosquitoes and the health dept. always advises to avoid those, whatever, old tires, basins, tanks, anythings that holds rainwater and left for days... they are the source. Indoors, mosquito net is the best option. Repellants are often loaded with chemicals which can lead to allergic problems. The skeeters get adjusted to the chemicals rather than humans!

I swatted this one.



June,
I'm also a great 'attractor' of these blooming skeeters. If there is one, they just find me even if there are many people around. During times of profusion, I use socks while my legs go under the darkness of the computer table! They prefer dark areas.