Mosquito Control

We share the planet with millions of other creatures that are, just like us, trying to make a living in their own special way. Sometimes, however, our neighbours can get a little annoying, not to mention downright dangerous if they are allowed to rage out of control. One of these creatures that make the life for us humans a daily pain is the mosquito. The tiny bloodsuckers not only leave itching welts but in some parts of the world they are the carriers of the deadly disease malaria. That is why humanity has put so much thought into effective methods of mosquito control.

Mosquito control can take various forms. There are mainly two types of mosquito control that is usually considered. The first is to prevent the mosquito from biting you in the first place and the second is an attempt to curb the numbers of mosquitoes that share the planet with us. In countries where malaria is a problem there is often a combination of the two methods to protect the people from the possibly lethal disease that is known as malaria.

Probably one of the best-known methods of mosquito control is the simple mosquito net. It is simple and elegant in its function. A fine mesh net is made from some sort of material, often linen or nylon, and the net is then placed around the bed where it is usually hung from railing of some sort. This net provides an effective barrier that mosquitoes cannot get through. In game lodges in Africa the mosquito net is a common sight in rooms along with a powerful fan. The fan is there to both cool down the room and to create a current of air that is hard for the mosquitoes to fly in.

In countries where malaria is a dire problem, the battle is often taken straight to the mosquitoes. In an attempt to curb their numbers there are initiatives to reduce the number of spawning grounds for mosquitoes. As they like stagnant pools of water, there are many endeavors to break up natural dams and to urge water to flow. Since the use of dangerous poisons has long since been outlawed by international laws, many researchers are starting to look for ‘green’ solutions to the mosquito control in many countries. It is interesting to note that not all mosquitoes are necessarily treated like this. Generally speaking it is only the mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite that are targeted. The average mosquito holds no danger in for a human being, but the parasite in some species can be quite deadly.

Mosquito control is an ongoing battle that has been ranging for centuries. It is sometimes funny to think that such a small insect can cause a large animal like us so much grief, but there you have it. Whether it is mosquito nets, ‘green’ solutions, or some other methods of keeping the bloodsuckers at bay, people have thought of hundreds of possible solutions. Only time will tell how many of them actually work.