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Home  /  Dengue  /  World Mosquito Day | 3 Common Misconceptions About Mosquito
20 August 2015

World Mosquito Day | 3 Common Misconceptions About Mosquito

Written by #AskLoke
#AskLoke
Dengue mosquito control, WorldMosquitoDay Leave a Comment

August 20th marks World Mosquito Day, an annual commemoration of one of the most important scientific revelation of Malaria. In 1897, British doctor Sir Ronald Ross discovered that female Anopheles mosquito is responsible for the transmission of this life-threatening disease. Since then, his research has helped pave way for scientists across the globe to learn the significance of mosquitoes’ role in spreading deadly diseases to humans.

Mosquito-borne illnesses are a growing problem globally and dengue is a prime example, especially in tropical countries worldwide. Dengue, caused by the Aedes mosquito, has proved to be a lethal threat in Malaysia. 201 fatalities have been reported as of 10th August this year compared to 215 deaths in entire of 2014, 92 in 2013, and 35 in 2012. The number of dengue cases had also risen to 73,896, that is an average of more than 300 infections reported daily!

Although considered to be the world’s deadliest animal because more than 1 million people are killed every year from their bites, find out what are the most misunderstood facts about mosquito:

1. All mosquitoes feed on human blood.
Primarily, all adult mosquitoes feed on plants nectar to get sugar that provides enough energy for both males and females to live. However, female mosquitoes also feed on blood for protein to develop their eggs.

2. Mosquitoes breed on all sources of water.
It is known that mosquitoes need water to breed. However, flowing water such as streams, ponds or lakes are not potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes because other predators like fish or frog can reduce the chance of mosquito’s egg survival. Which is why, mosquitoes actually prefer to lay their eggs in shallow and stagnant water.

3. Mosquitoes prefer people with sweet blood.
Mosquitoes are not attracted to people based on their sugar level; instead they are attracted to heat, carbon dioxide and lactic acid which are released during exercise.

What can you do to keep mosquitoes at bay?

  • Trim your garden shrubs and grass short to reduce mosquito harbourage areas.
  • Discard stagnant water collected in empty flower pots to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
  • Apply mosquito repellent containing diethyltoluamide (DEET) to deter mosquitoes when you are outdoor.
  • Install mosquito netting/screen on all windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
  • Conduct regular fogging activities around the neighbourhood to kill adult mosquitoes.

Learn more about interesting mosquito facts with our infographic.

#AskLoke
#AskLoke

Loke joined Rentokil Initial Malaysia since 2006 with a BSc degree in Biology. He continues to learn and hone his technical knowledge on pest biology as he rises through the ranks from Field Biologist to Technical Manager, where he leads a team of pest experts under his wing. On top of that, his other responsibilities include carrying out in-depth inspections at our customer’s premises, identify the root of any pest problem and make highly practical recommendations to deal with the situation.

Loke is also the pioneer in helping through the digital transformation journey at Rentokil Initial Malaysia innovates our way of working, including myRentokil Online Reporting.

When Loke is not dabbling with pesky bugs, he can be found sharing his wealth of pest knowledge at conferences such as Food Safety Inspection Training, Global Food Safety Conference, etc. If you have any pest concerns fret not, just #AskLoke

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