An adult mosquito only lives about a month old. But during this short time, it annoys many people, buzzing and piquing, making the evening and the night a torture – and, in the case of mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Anopheles transmitting serious diseases such as dengue, zika, chikungunya, yellow fever and malaria. To combat them, people's interest in locally sourced and non-ecological repellents is increasing.
Using home remedies to repel Culex mosquitoes, of lesser danger, is one thing …
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil
What are the advantages and disadvantages? And what are their limits?
According to experts heard by BBC News Brazil, it is still necessary to keep in mind that industrialized products are more effective in the fight against mosquito – borne diseases.
"There are several natural substances with properties to repel insects," says dermatologist Vidal Haddad Júnior, Botucatu School of Medicine at the University of São Paulo (Unesp), a specialist in venomous animals and test anti-mosquito laboratory
He cites as an example lemongrbad, andiroba, garlic and vitamins of complex B.
"All repel, to a degree more or less big, "says Haddad. "The problem – and it must be very clear – is how much they repel.If it is to avoid common mosquitoes, of the genus Culex you can stay in a quiet period (without mosquitoes) the problem is) if it is a Aedes of an Anopheles . "That is to say that for Haddad, domestic repellents even kill mosquitoes, but because of the danger posed by disease transmitters, it is advisable to protect oneself with reliable industrial products.
… but in areas with high incidence dangerous Aedes aegypti, it is better not to risk and use industrialized repellents, more effective
According to him, the question is not whether they distance themselves or not, but with what efficiency, in areas at risk of illness.
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil
"And you must consider that there is no comparison between domestic and industrial repellents, which are much more effective," warns he. "I do not advise against using the first, but the user must know their limits and consider where they are and their risks."
This means that in terms of risk, do not rely on homemade products.
Preventative Home Remedies for Mosquitoes
Some houseplants, such as jasmine, rue, rosemary and basil, are used to repel mosquitoes because of their strong, penetrating odor. At the same time, we must not forget that one of the best solutions is to kill mosquitoes at birth, even when they are larvae, avoiding that they reach the stage adulthood, when they actually become dangerous, transmitters of diseases.
The female of these insects lays about 300 eggs near the surface of the water, fixed to the wall of the vessels, and in about 36 hours they appear to the larvae. They turn into pupae after 5 to 10 days, then in 2 days, in individual flight. From the egg to the end of his life, Aedes for example, needs about a month and a half.
To avoid this, everyone knows it: avoid the accumulation of flat and clean water in glbad or PET bottles, in old tires, barrels and deposits. , planter pots, unused toilets, outdoor refrigerator trays, dumpsters, liquid accumulators, clogged drains, gutters, slabs and other uneven surfaces.
Even though there is still water accumulated, there are home remedies to prevent the birth of mosquitoes. According to a guide developed by researchers at the Regional Bioprospecting Resources Laboratory of the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), ground coffee and sanitary water (sodium hypochlorite) can be used for this purpose.
In the first case, two tablespoons of ground coffee are required for one liter of water. In the case of bleach, we use 40 drops (about a tablespoon).
"These two mixtures should be used in places such as plants (mainly bromeliads) and pots, because they are not damaged," says pharmacist and biochemist Ana de Fátima Fontenele Urano Carvalho, Department of Biology of UFC, who helped write the book. "However, these solutions can not be used in water intended for human consumption, such as boxes or filters."
The experts heard in the report do not reject lemongrbad, but remember that industrial repellents are more effective in fighting mosquitoes
She claims that the team of UFC researchers has also discovered that extracts of some herbs might be useful for fighting mosquito larvae of dengue fever. These species have an effect called larvicide because they kill the larvae before they become adults. Among them are brackish cress ( Acmella uliginosa ), alfavaca ( Ocimum basilicum ), the sacred herb ( of Cymbopogon citratus ), () and lemon ( Citrus limonum ) and lemon ( Melissa officinalis ), peppermint ( from Mentha spicata ), mastruço or mastruz)
In the same book, researchers give teas and extracts of these plants. For teas: every three cups of tea leaves, add one liter of water to the boil for 15 minutes. To extract the extract, mash three cups of leaves, add a quart of water and soak overnight, stirring the mixture as much as possible. be placed in places where mosquitoes usually lay their eggs, such as plants (mainly bromeliads) and vases, old tires and empty bottles, for example ", says Ana de Fatima." But it is important to remember that these recipes can not be used in water intended for human consumption, such as water tanks or filters. "
Newton Goulart Madeira Biologist and Doctor of Parasitology, Campus Institute of Biosciences Botucatu d & # Unesp, reinforces the care that must be given to the control and fight at home of mosquitoes likely to transmit diseases.
"The recipes without scientific tests of effectiveness can compromise the health of thousands of people, so I'm suspicious of them, "he says." The most effective thing is that people control breeding areas at home and that the public power monitors insect rates and the when they are high. "
https://www.youtube.com/watch
BBC News Brazil – All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited without the written permission of BBC News Brazil
To avoid this, everyone knows it: avoid the accumulation of flat and clean water in glbad or PET bottles, in old tires, barrels and deposits. , planter pots, unused toilets, outdoor refrigerator trays, dumpsters, liquid accumulators, clogged drains, gutters, slabs and other uneven surfaces.
