Monday 24 August 2015

An Overview Of Natural Mosquito Trap

By Shawn Hunter


We all hate mosquitoes for their painful bites that leave our skins red and swollen. These insects carry the rare but very lethal diseases, West Nile and Malaria. However, mosquitoes are very important in the ecosystem. Many people are unaware of this fact but they are the main pollinators of cocoa plant. Without them, we would not enjoy the tasty chocolates which we give to our loved ones on special occasions. Natural mosquito trap method is increasingly being adopted by many citizens across the universe. This is possible because they are simple to prepare and quite cheap.

Mosquitoes are present in every region of the earth except in the Antarctica. These insects are prevalent in the warm humid and tropical regions during which the temperatures are extremely high. These conditions are conducive for their breeding. Certain mosquito species feed on nectar from flowers while others feed on the blood of human beings. Each situation calls for special control measures. Some of the measures are discussed below.

Iceland is the only region on planet earth that is free of these parasites. The cold weather is unsuitable for breeding. Blood and nectar is what mosquitoes feed on to stay alive. By feeding on nectar, they ensure continuity through pollination. Controlling infestation requires specific measures and some of them are discussed below.

Several researches by scientists have concluded that mosquitoes prefer to breed in standing water and on uncut vegetation across the country. The larvae are left on the water surface where they remain to maturity. Tyre of vehicles are also breeding grounds for mosquitoes. In the USA, importation of tires has contributed to the increase in Malaria cases. There are no policies that ensure these imports are free of mosquitoes. Standing water should be drained immediately they happen and grasses should be cut as often as is possible.

Mosquito-fish are the fish species that feed on mosquito larvae. Such fish include tilapia and guppies. These fish can be introduced into ponds to feed on these harmful insects. Dragonflies too feed on the mosquito larvae thereby reducing their population. Other than these biological control measures, there are natural ways of trapping mosquitoes. Below are some of them.

In the tropics, use of mosquito nets has increased. The nets are washed in pesticides thus kill the mosquitoes immediately they land on them. Some citizens also use bronze gauze on their windows that keeps them away from the house. Use of nets is most appropriate especially the white ones.

Once all this is done, cover the bottle with something black but leave the top open. The yeast releases carbon (IV) oxide which attracts the mosquitoes. The color black has also been proven to attract these insects. Evert fortnight, this solution should be changed for the best benefits. This simple method is called the soda bottle trap.

The natural mosquitoes trap is the best option because it has no negative impacts on the ecosystem as it only traps these stubborn blood sucking insects. This is unlike the pesticides and sprays that kill every insect in their wake.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment