Mosquitoes finally decreasing across the region?

So we will enjoy a brief break from the heat, happy that the lower thermometer level will also help slow down the life cycle of mosquitoes, including the tiger mosquito, which above 30 degrees (present practically every day since July) can lay eggs capable of developing and giving rise to new adult specimens in just 10 days or even less. A real plague, that of mosquitoes, which is finally beginning to be tackled with greater awareness and efficiency in an increasing number of municipalities also in Veneto.

As read on the site ZeroZanzare.it, for example, in the municipality of Occhiobello (province of Rovigo) the traps placed in various areas of the city recorded a number of eggs of Aedes Albopictus (scientific name of the tiger mosquito) almost 50% lower than that of the same period in 2016. An incredible result, achieved thanks to the commitment of the municipal administration, which was able to tackle the problem in a timely manner, involving citizens in the fundamental prevention operations (elimination or larvicide treatment of potential breeding sites such as saucers and fountains).

Mosquitoes: more than just a nuisance

Let’s not forget that the presence (increasing in recent years) of mosquitoes in our country is not only a seasonal nuisance due to bites, but also represents a serious – albeit potential – risk to public health, due to the possibility that some species of mosquitoes can transmit diseases from an infected person to a healthy one. This is the case of the dengue alerts recorded in Vicenza in mid-July and a few days later also in Verona, situations in which the municipal administrations promptly intervened with local disinfestation around the home address of the sick people.

Dengue, like many other mosquito-borne diseases, is not considered endemic in our country, but it is easy for a person traveling in a tropical area of the world, such as Southeast Asia, to contract it while on vacation and show symptoms only upon return, exposing fellow citizens to the risk of infection. It should be noted that in most cases, mosquito-borne diseases have a positive outcome, especially if recognized and treated promptly.

But it is not time to let our guard down, because until the end of summer, or better yet until the arrival of winter (the real one confirmed by the thermometer, not the one marked on the calendar) we will still have to fight these insects, which with the next rains could even find puddles and other stagnant water ideal for laying eggs and spreading again.

Home remedies for mosquitoes

Despite the encouraging news, it is reasonable to implement measures to prevent the insidious spread of mosquitoes in the home environment, especially for those living in humid and marshy areas. There are several plants that, in addition to their elegance and ornamental value, have a repellent effect on these annoying insects. 

Examples include lavender, whose bright hues have distinguished some of the most splendid works by Claude Monet and Van Gogh, geraniums, capable of amazing with their extraordinary range of colors, as well as marigold, verbena, and many other varieties that we have discussed in more depth in another article.