Mosquitoes...the eleventh plague?
November 3rd 2006 06:32
I like summer. When the sun shines.
Oh but when the sun sets behind the horizon, the vampires awake and abandon their crypts to hunt for fresh blood.
There’s nothing I hate more than the bbzzzzBBBBZZZZZ of a mosquito flying around in the airspace above your ear.
Mosquitoes have been around for the last 30 million years or so. In that time they’ve been evolving into the ultimate vampire, packing an arsenal of blood-detecting equipment.
1) They detect heat.
2) Thy detect chemicals released in your breath.
3) They see you if you wear clothes that contrast with your environment (purchase your camouflage pajamas now.)
Mosquitoes hatch from eggs. The mother lays her eggs in the water, where the larva hatches. The larvae, also caller wrigglers, spend their entire cycle in the water. They breathe through air pipes (almost like a snorkel) and eat organic material. As they grow, they shed skin. After they’ve shed their fourth skin, the wrigglers become tumblers. These tumblers stay in the water for anywhere between 1 and 4 days. After this period – they transform into your worst nightmare.
It’s interesting to note that it’s the female mosquito that sucks your blood dry, while the male peacefully lives on plant nectar. Coincidence? I think not.
My personal theory is that that today’s modern, concrete jungle mosquitoes have out evolved bug repellents. They’re immune to the stuff, even though I’m spraying it directly at them (yeah, I sleep with a can in my hand in case one of the buggers decides to come too close to my ear.)
The newest anti-mosquito technology entails a small machine that releases the pheromones that attract mosquitoes, and then ensnare them all! (*Evil laugh*)
The alternative option is to just eat a whole garlic clove before I go to bed tonight…
Oh but when the sun sets behind the horizon, the vampires awake and abandon their crypts to hunt for fresh blood.
There’s nothing I hate more than the bbzzzzBBBBZZZZZ of a mosquito flying around in the airspace above your ear.
Mosquitoes have been around for the last 30 million years or so. In that time they’ve been evolving into the ultimate vampire, packing an arsenal of blood-detecting equipment.
1) They detect heat.
2) Thy detect chemicals released in your breath.
3) They see you if you wear clothes that contrast with your environment (purchase your camouflage pajamas now.)
Mosquitoes hatch from eggs. The mother lays her eggs in the water, where the larva hatches. The larvae, also caller wrigglers, spend their entire cycle in the water. They breathe through air pipes (almost like a snorkel) and eat organic material. As they grow, they shed skin. After they’ve shed their fourth skin, the wrigglers become tumblers. These tumblers stay in the water for anywhere between 1 and 4 days. After this period – they transform into your worst nightmare.
It’s interesting to note that it’s the female mosquito that sucks your blood dry, while the male peacefully lives on plant nectar. Coincidence? I think not.
My personal theory is that that today’s modern, concrete jungle mosquitoes have out evolved bug repellents. They’re immune to the stuff, even though I’m spraying it directly at them (yeah, I sleep with a can in my hand in case one of the buggers decides to come too close to my ear.)
The newest anti-mosquito technology entails a small machine that releases the pheromones that attract mosquitoes, and then ensnare them all! (*Evil laugh*)
The alternative option is to just eat a whole garlic clove before I go to bed tonight…
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Comment by Jessicca
Learning Something Everyday
Malaysia Found
That was a good post. I like your final solution, garlic.
Perhaps that is another ancient solution (where I am not sure why it isn't used these days) - Mosquito netting.
Well, the best is to spray your room and leave it for about 2 minutes then you pull your mosquito netting down and voila! You are protected for the rest of the night. (Hopefully - since you said that they have evolved)
Don't sleep with your can, that isn't very good as when the mosquito dies on your instant poison, your body dies slowly with the poison as well...
Jessicca
Comment by Emile
A Lesson A Day
Thanks for the comment and advice.
I haven't thought about mosquito netting, but you're right - it would work.
Comment by Jessicca
Learning Something Everyday
Malaysia Found
My house used to have that. And the only problem is my mom would make me put up the mosquito netting into a nice coil and push it upwards so that it makes the room clearer and neater.
So every night my dad would just spray the room and ask us to stay in the living room until it is about 2 - 3 minutes, then we let the mosquito netting down before we head to bed.
Nowadays, the room I am staying has netting by the window, so in general, it is harder for the mosquito to come in. The problem - harder to maintain (wash) as it is framed to the window.
Comment by MaaUpma
Indus Guru
Vastu - The Indian Science of Dwelling
EGurumantra - Demystifying India
You seem to have started with a bang. Quite a few quality posts then stopped suddenly.
I suggest you re-start again.
On the mosquito menance, the best solution is indeed mosquito net which you have already figured out.
Maa Upma