How To Get Child To Stop Biting

As much as we all love sitting out in the sun on long summer days (and nights), it can often mean ending up with itchy, swollen, red bites. For those unfortunate folk who seem to be irresistible to mosquitoes, the sunshine and soaring temperatures are the backdrop for all-out insect warfare!

If this sounds like a familiar scenario, try these strategies to thwart these summertime pests, before you resort to chemical sprays...

Get rid of standing water

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. This provides the perfect nursery for their young to hatch, pupate and emerge as adults. It's the adult females that get us, leaving behind their calling-card itchy bites.

To reduce the number of mosquito breeding sites close to your house, Dee Ward-Thompson, Head of Technical at British Pest Control Association (BPCA), advises 'checking for, and draining, as much standing water as possible. This means keeping gutters clear so that rainwater doesn't collect in them.'

Uncovered water butts are another attractive egg-laying location, so it's a good idea to prioritise using the water that's collected inside it over the hosepipe to water the garden. This helps ensure the water butt is regularly drained, to be replenished next time it rains. Covering water butts will also help.

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Drain paddling pools frequently

At this time of year, paddling pools and children's water play tables are a regular sight on lawns across the UK. The water in these can attract mosquitoes if it's not regularly changed.

It takes between six to ten days for a young mosquito to hatch from its egg and mature into an adult. Changing the water in these every five or so days should help.

Change bedding and nightwear regularly

We now know that the reason mosquitoes are so adept at hunting us down is because they can detect the carbon dioxide we exhale. They then follow this trail of C02 back to its source – us.

Scientists at the University of California have found that mosquitoes are also drawn to our skin odour, which could explain their incredible success rate tracking down the tiniest area of uncovered ankle or arm. It might also go some way to understanding why they seem to be prey upon some of us more than others, perhaps preferring the skin scent of one individual over another.

A shower before bedtime could help, as will regularly changing bedding and nightwear.

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Fill your garden with garlic and herbs

Their bites may not be quite as bad as a vampires, but mozzies also hate garlic! The same goes for fragrant herbs, such as mint and rosemary. Simply keeping a couple of each on your kitchen windowsill, in your garden or bedroom could go a long way.

Cut down on beer (sorry!)

Ever since lockdown restrictions have relaxed, most of us have spent time in the nearest beer garden with a pint. It might be time to cut back - studies have shown that drinking alcohol generally - but beer especially - has a direct correlation with attracting mosquitoes.

Turn on your fan

Mosquitoes are weak flyers, so you can blast the blighters away simply by turning on your fan. The fan's speed paired with the fact it disperses carbon dioxide and body odour (both of which flag where you are to mozzies) will help deter them.

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Banish flowery fragrances

Mozzies are particularly attracted to saccharine-sweet, floral scents. So, if you don't want to abstain from wearing perfumes altogether, at least go for something with citrus or woody tones to put them off.

Keep the citronella for now

Our scientist friends across the pond are researching the reason why some aromas seem to turn mosquitoes off. The theory is that certain naturally-occurring, naturally-scented chemicals, such as citronella, stop mosquitoes being able to detect our natural human skin scent.

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