6 reliable folk remedies for mosquito bites and itching: the best recipes

A quiet and peaceful night is what our person needs in order to feel rested, cheerful and full of energy in the morning. Sometimes it is difficult to achieve the desired result if you are constantly overwhelmed by a flock of buzzing insects. From warm spring to late autumn, mosquitoes, midges and other small arthropods do not allow you to sleep peacefully. It’s good that another human invention comes to the rescue - a repellent.

As the manufacturers assure, just 30 minutes of work and there will be no trace of insects left. But many people are concerned about other questions: are mosquito repellents harmful? How safe are they for human health? Now we will try to answer them.

Composition of mosquito repellent plates

It is not enough to read the chemical composition of the mosquito plate; you also need to understand the meaning of each of these substances and what effect it has. Depending on the manufacturer and type of mosquito repellent, you can find the following substances included in their composition:

1. Esbiotrin (allethrin). A substance used in everyday life to combat flying and crawling insects. Under different names it is included in the plates of arthropods. How do mosquito repellent plates with such filling work? The drug affects the sodium channels of the nervous system, in which nerve conduction is gradually disrupted. The functioning of the nerve and then the muscular system of the mosquito changes. The following processes occur one by one: the insect is immediately hyperactive for several minutes, then its coordination of movements is impaired, involuntary muscle contraction appears, then muscle weakness follows, paralysis and death occurs.
2. The composition of mosquito repellent liquids and plates often includes prallethrin and its analogues - a synthetic insecticide from the pyrethroid group, the action of the product is aimed at killing insects.
3. Repellents often contain DEET (N,N-diethylmethylbenzamide), a substance that has a repellent and destructive effect on small animals. Effective against not only mosquitoes, but also flies, ticks, midges, fleas, horseflies. Affects the olfactory organs and the nervous system.
4. Aerosols contain isopropanol, an alcohol. In small doses it does not cause much harm, but since it has a depressant effect on the nervous system, it can easily be classified as an active repellent substance. Isopropanol is 3.5 times more toxic than regular ethanol, so such mosquito repellents cannot be called safe for children.
5. In addition to the active substance itself, perfume and plant extracts are added to the plates and repellents for scent.

How do mosquito repellent plates work? The main effect on animals is inhibition of the nervous system and an effect on the sense of smell, while insects cease to smell human odors (this is carbon dioxide that a person exhales and lactic acid in sweat). But many substances do not have selective activity and can also affect humans.

Characteristics of mosquitoes

The common mosquito is a blood-sucking insect that is distributed everywhere, mainly near water bodies. Their sizes vary from 4 to 8 mm. The life cycle of a mosquito is a series of specific sequential stages, during which mature mosquitoes - adults - are formed from eggs.

For the purpose of reproduction, the female mosquito lays eggs in warm, stagnant water. The role of such reservoirs is mainly ponds, stakes, wetlands, rivers and many others. The development of a mosquito in water takes up to seven to eight days. It all depends on the temperature of the water in which the eggs are located.

Contact with mosquito saliva leads to the development of allergic reactions.

When considering the topic of mosquitoes, it is very important to understand the diet of mosquitoes. The feeding of mosquitoes will allow us to understand how and for what purpose this type of insect often disturbs people so much. Only female mosquitoes bite people. At the site of the bite, the female injects her saliva, which to some extent helps to numb the area. It is contact with mosquito saliva that leads to the development of allergic reactions. It is worth noting that in addition to allergies, mosquito damage can lead to the development of various infections. Human blood is necessary for the development of eggs; the rest of their needs are provided by sugars, which they receive from the juices of various plants.

How do mosquito repellent plates work on people?

There are no absolutely safe repellents. Therefore, manufacturers honestly warn:

• some time after use, the plates (30–60 minutes depending on the concentration of the substances contained in them) must be turned off;
• many cannot be left overnight;
• it is important to ventilate the room well every day;
• Do not use mosquito repellent plates during pregnancy or in children's rooms.

What is the reason for this concern about human health? The substances included in anti-arthropod remedies do not specifically affect mosquitoes, flies or mammals; they have a general inhibitory or toxic effect on the nervous system, inhibiting its functioning. The only question is concentration. In the amount in which it is contained in a plate or liquid mosquito repellent, it should only affect small creatures. But if safety rules are violated or if a reaction to the drug develops, a person may experience the following symptoms.

1. dizziness
   Nausea, dizziness, and vomiting develop if the substance is somehow ingested.
2. Drowsiness, weakness.
3. If the product is accidentally applied to the skin or the active plate comes into contact with the skin, itching, burning, tingling and a feeling of warmth may occur, but dermatitis rarely develops.
4. Mosquito repellent plates cause more harm when the electric fumigator (an electrical device in which the insect repellent is located and begins to actively work) is used for a long time. As a rule, this happens if you forget to turn off the device at night. The person will feel weak, there may be vomiting and loose stools, cramps, muscle paralysis.
5. There are allergic reactions in the form of swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, lacrimation due to intolerance to one of the components of the product (sometimes it is a filler, an extract of a plant substance included in the plates).
6. Mosquito repellents for children are not as safe as we would like. As already mentioned, they contain DEET, isopropanol and other ingredients. Almost all manufacturers do not recommend using them under the age of three years.

What happens when you are bitten by a mosquito or midge?

The insect's mouth consists of a small proboscis, with which it easily bites through the thin skin of a child. After a bite, the mosquito injects special substances into the wound so that the blood does not clot so quickly and the insect has time to get enough of it. At the moment of the bite, the baby will not feel anything - all the unpleasant symptoms begin after a few minutes. Itching, swelling and redness of the skin at the site of the bite is nothing more than a local allergic reaction. The substances that mosquitoes inject into the skin are foreign to the child’s body. They are quickly captured by cells of the immune system and begin to fight against the “invaders”. As a result, an allergy develops. A local reaction to a bite is normal for a child, and if the right products are used, it goes away without a trace within a few days. If your child regularly suffers from itching and large blisters after an insect bite, do not be alarmed - it will take several years for his body to adapt. For example, babies under one year old and preschool children often experience severe swelling and painful itching, while schoolchildren are usually left with a small red nodule after insect bites, which quickly goes away.

How to use plates and repellents correctly

1. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
2. Read carefully for whom these drugs are contraindicated.
3. When applying the aerosol to children, try not to get it in the eyes or on bare skin.
4. Do not turn on the device near beds.
5. Do not use the plates for more than the specified time.
6. In unventilated areas, do not leave mosquito repellent plates on for longer than the specified time. If you turn on the fumigator, then try to always open the window or balcony door.
7. If you experience an allergic reaction to a substance, try not to buy plates with this composition in the future.

Are mosquito repellent plates harmful to humans? Not if you spend a little time reading everything on their packaging. How to protect your family from possible complications? It is important to follow all safety precautions and remember to turn off the device on time.

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How to help a child with mosquito bites

First of all, after an insect bite, it is important to relieve the itching , because otherwise the child will scratch the skin and can introduce dangerous bacteria into the body. First aid for mosquito bites can be provided even without any medications on hand:

• rinse the bite area well under cool water - this will remove any residual mosquito saliva and slightly reduce swelling of the skin;
• make a lotion from a soda solution to reduce itching (3);
• if the mosquito bite is still very itchy, you can apply a piece of ice wrapped in a cloth - the cold will distract the child from discomfort and reduce local inflammation.

You can treat a wound on the skin with antiseptics: hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, furatsilin. They prevent infection and suppuration of the skin, and also slightly reduce irritation after a bite.

Why are there so many mosquitoes at home?

In residential buildings, the appearance of bloodsuckers can be associated with several factors. In most cases, the parasite enters an apartment through open windows and doors that do not have mosquito nets, on the person himself or on a pet. If there are damp places in the room, then the adult can lay eggs there, from which new insects will hatch over time. All species of dipteran bloodsuckers have an excellent sense of smell; they can smell prey at a great distance and travel through the ventilation pipes from their neighbors’ apartments. The presence of cracks in balcony doors and walls is also one of the reasons for the presence of parasites.

How to get rid of mosquitoes at home and in the country?

It’s one thing to encounter mosquitoes outside the city while walking in a park or near a pond; it’s another thing if squeaking bloodsuckers have filled your house or apartment. How to deal with unpleasant guests?

If you want to combine insect control and sports, go hunting with the STOP FLY electric fly swatter with or without a flashlight.

You can use fumigators, examples of which were given above. Or means for treating rooms and areas, for example, your farm Kra-deo aerosol against flying insects (150 rubles), Tsifox solution (350 rubles) or Help Boyscout (320-370 rubles).

Electric insect killers and traps are also suitable:

1. Insect exterminator Komaroff D30 - RUB 1,373.
2. Insect exterminator Miru 2203 — 1490 rub.
3. Mosquito trap Tefal Mosquito Protect MN4015F1 — RUB 3,990.
4. Xiaomi Dragonfly Mosquito Killer trap - 5000 rub.
5. Anti-mosquito lamp Rexant 71-0056 — 3950 rub.
6. Insect exterminator KomarOFF GA-80 Light Sensor - RUB 13,800.

To combat bloodsuckers on terraces, checkers and candles are suitable:

1. Checker Your farm Mukhoyar - 170 rubles.
2. Repellent candle Gardex Family - 365 rub.
3. Samuro smoke bomb - 340 rubles.

Folk remedies will also come in handy in the war against flying bloodsuckers. Instead of a fumigator, you can place lemon halves in the room, with 10 cloves stuck into the pulp. If you have a picnic in your garden and you have a source of open fire, you can throw a juniper branch there or drop juniper oil or oils of orange, geranium, mint, tea tree, anise, lavender, and cedar onto the hot coals.

Look for a few more recipes in the video:

Here's a video on how to make a mosquito trap from a plastic bottle:

What to replace repellents with?

To minimize the consequences of the negative impact of mosquito repellent plates (as well as coils, candles, liquids), it is advisable to use liquid insecticides. By mixing the concentrate with warm water, a working solution is obtained, which is used to treat (irrigate, coat) mosquito landing sites (window sills, furniture, door and window openings, etc.), as well as the outer walls of all buildings on the site and garbage containers.

When working with these substances, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment - a respirator, goggles, gloves. After treatment, it is recommended to leave the room for several hours (4 or more), and then, after thorough ventilation, you can return to your usual rhythm of life.

The use of insecticides is safer (if all rules are followed) and provides a long-lasting effect (about 1-1.5 months). That is why their efficiency is much higher.

In the Mosquito Repellent section you can see the full range of chemical products used to kill annoying bloodsuckers. MosDezSpetsTorg specialists are always ready to provide competent advice regarding the selection and use of insecticides.

Ways to control mosquitoes

A pond is a decoration for any site, and ditches are a necessary part of the reclamation system, but it is in them that blood-sucking insects breed. To protect yourself from mosquito bites, it is not necessary to drain water bodies: you can apply insecticides to your skin and clothes, or treat your garden plot with professional preparations.

Products for application to the skin: personal protection

Traditional means of protection against mosquito bites are insecticides that are applied to the skin: sprays, creams, aerosols with an unpleasant odor for insects. Most often they are produced on the basis of cypermethrin or DEET - diethyltoluolamide.

The downside is that it is recommended to apply the products in doses and carefully: do not get into the eyes and mouth, because chemicals irritate the mucous membranes. For children and pregnant women, you need to choose a more gentle method of protection, for example, essential oils of the following plants:

• carnations;
• thuja;
• laurel;
• anise;
• eucalyptus.

It is also allowed to wipe open areas of the body with a decoction of wormwood roots, if there is no allergy to it.

Means for treating the area

To combat mosquitoes in the garden plot, it is treated with professional preparations: Medilis Cyper, Bioneutral I50, and Tsifoks. All of them contain cypermethrin, a substance that disables the nervous system of insects, causing paralysis and death.

The exterminator produces a fine spray of a diluted product on the treated area. The specialist’s task is to choose the right insecticide, calculate the required concentration and spray it in places where larvae and mature insects are concentrated. This could be a flooded basement, a ditch, or a garden pond.

Medilis Cyper

The most effective remedy is the domestic drug Medilis Cyper. Prolonged action up to two months from the moment of treatment. Safe for humans and pets. Protects against mosquitoes, ticks and midges.

Bioneutral I 50

Bioneutral I 50 is effective against mosquitoes, flies, Colorado potato beetles and caterpillars. Valid for up to four weeks. After 40 days from the moment of spraying, cypermethrin decomposes into neutral substances.

Cifox

Tsifoks is used to combat mosquitoes, ixodid ticks, midges, bedbugs and cockroaches. Widely used to control mosquito larvae in flooded basements.

Plants are an alternative to chemical mosquito repellents

Many plants have a bright aroma that is intolerable to insects. Among the trees, the most powerful repellent is the Manchurian nut: mosquitoes and flies are afraid of it. This huge tree grows up to 20 meters in height and casts a huge shadow on the site.

Red bird cherry planted along the perimeter of the site discourages mosquitoes from “flying to the light.” The shrub looks beautiful during flowering and fruiting and drains the soil well.

In addition to shrubs and trees, you can plant herbs and flowers with an insecticidal effect on the site and around the house:

• basil;
• geranium;
• carnation;
• mint;
• lavender;
• tansy;
• valerian;
• sagebrush.

Mechanical and electrical means of mosquito control

Many summer residents make their own mosquito traps from bottles. By placing a mixture of granulated sugar, yeast and water at the bottom of the bottle, they create a carbon dioxide generator. Mosquitoes perceive this signal as a sign of human presence, rush into a narrow hole and die in the water. The liquid in the trap must be changed daily.

Electrical traps are ultrasonic and electromagnetic, and their effect continues as long as they are connected to the network. High frequency sounds are inaudible to humans, but should repel insects. At the same time, many owners of such devices complain of mood swings and headaches during their use. In addition, mosquitoes do not disappear completely. The use of fans and UV lamps is considered environmentally friendly. One electric water trap protects an area of ​​up to 50 m2 from insects, but it cannot be called budget.

The fumigator is used indoors; citronella spirals and candles work well outdoors. They are safe for animals, but are only suitable for stationary placement and have a range of no more than 5 meters.

Mosquitoes in the basement

Basement mosquitoes are significantly different from wild mosquitoes and can appear in homes all year round, carrying various diseases. These insects live in damp basements, in warmth and dampness and multiply remarkably, then penetrating into apartments. Therefore, in order to solve the problem at the root, it is necessary to drain the basement and block the paths for mosquitoes to enter the home.

Before getting rid of mosquitoes in the basement, inspect it; perhaps the cause is dampness, with good waterproofing, or poor vapor and waterproofing, which leads to condensation of moisture in it. By solving this problem, you will most likely get rid of mosquitoes.

Features of mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are small insects reaching a length of 3-7 mm. Their activity peaks in the warm season. You can encounter this problem in nature, in the courtyard of a private house, in a barn or living room. Insects fly into the house in response to the heat, which is detected by their infrared vision.

Mosquitoes feed on plant sap, but female pests also feed on human blood, which is necessary for the development of offspring and population growth. Insects find their victims by the smell of sweat.

Insects make squeaking and buzzing noises while flying, which disturbs sleep and peace. But the main danger of mosquitoes is bites, which cause discomfort in the form of itching, redness, and swelling. In addition, insects can be carriers of dangerous infectious diseases (malaria or yellow fever).

Mosquitoes are small insects whose females feed on human blood to reproduce healthy offspring.

Folk remedies for mosquito bites: essential oil and spray

We offer 2 more methods from Anastasia Kalinina, our author of the “Pets” section

Essential oils: coniferous (fir, spruce, juniper) or citrus (lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit), also mint, geranium, eucalyptus. Add 1-2 drops of oil to a portion of baby cream (body milk) and spread on the bite area. Essential oil of lavender or tea tree can be applied pointwise with a cotton swab to the bite site if there is no intolerance (other essential oils burn the skin). Keep in mind that when using citrus essential oils, you must protect your skin from the sun, otherwise there may be burns.

You can make a spray to repel mosquitoes. To do this, dissolve 5-10 drops of essential oil (lavender, tea tree, clove, mint, eucalyptus) in 1 tablespoon of vodka or cologne, and then add to 250 ml of water, pour into a spray bottle and shake. The spray is ready to use. Vodka can be replaced with 9% wine (table) vinegar.

You can dilute natural apple cider vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio and use it as a spray.