Mosquitoes in the bedroom are annoying. After a beautiful spring or summer day, there is a good chance that some mosquitoes have flown into your bedroom if you have not taken preventive measures. A possible consequence is a mosquito bite, which can also be very itchy. In addition, mosquitoes can also cause sleepless nights. The constant buzzing next to your ear makes falling asleep particularly difficult. Waking up the next morning with a number of mosquito bites is also not nice. There are some good tips to prevent mosquito bites. Have you been bitten by a mosquito? Then you can of course treat the mosquito bite. The mosquito season starts in the spring, when it gets warmer and the first insects appear. Mosquitoes disappear with the first frost. A mosquito-free bedroom is a pleasant start to a refreshing night’s sleep.
What is a mosquito?
A mosquito is a very small insect of about six millimeters. It has six legs and two wings. The mosquito makes a buzzing sound with its wings. There are approximately three thousand species of mosquitoes worldwide. There are mosquitoes that can cause serious diseases, such as the malaria mosquito or the Asian tiger mosquito. There are approximately thirty-four species of mosquitoes in the Low Countries. However, the mosquitoes in the Netherlands and Belgium are harmless. The only nuisance a mosquito can cause is a mosquito bite. The female mosquitoes can sting with their long snout. After all, they need blood to make eggs. The male mosquitoes live on nectar and do not sting.Mosquitoes are harmless in the Low Countries. Female mosquitoes bite and cause mosquito bites. / Source: ZoranD, Pixabay
Types of mosquitoes and the function of a mosquito
The best-known mosquito families in the Netherlands and Belgium are the crane flies (Tipulidae), the mosquitoes (Culicidae) and the non-stinging mosquitoes. Not all types of mosquitoes suck blood. The biting female mosquitoes use the proteins in the blood to develop their eggs. A typical mosquito bite occurs when a mosquito has sucked blood from the body. Saliva is released, which contains an anticoagulant factor. Saliva is a protein that leads to an immune response in humans. The known immune response is the development of a mosquito bite. The fact that you are stung depends on certain factors. Mosquitoes are attracted to various things, including body odor, light, sweat, lactic acid, heat and CO 2 .
Preventing mosquitoes and mosquito bites in the bedroom
Buy a mosquito stick for the wall socket
You place a mosquito stick in a socket. The stick then spreads an odor that mosquitoes absolutely cannot tolerate. People tolerate this smell and do not even perceive this smell. Plug the stick into the socket thirty minutes before you go to sleep. There are also sticks with a timer, so that you do not have to manually plug the stick into the socket every time.
Choose pajamas that protect against mosquito bites
It is a good idea to wear pajamas that cover a maximum of body parts. This way the mosquitoes are less likely to sting you. Make sure that your pajamas are not too thick, so that you do not get too warm. After all, mosquitoes are more attracted to sweaty bodies.
Installing a window screen against mosquitoes
A window screen or fly screen gives you the opportunity to properly ventilate your bedroom, without annoying mosquitoes coming in again and again. You can ask an expert to install this for you. If you are handy, you can buy your window screen at a DIY store and then install it yourself. The cost will be less expensive in the second case.
Suck away mosquitoes with the vacuum cleaner
Check your room during the day. If you can see mosquitoes, you can suck them in with a vacuum cleaner. Of course, make sure that your windows and doors remain closed. This way you are assured of a good night’s sleep, without mosquitoes. When removing the vacuum bag, make sure that the mosquitoes do not escape.
Ventilate your bedroom
A bedroom with a lot of wind is unfavorable for mosquitoes. After all, mosquitoes have a very low weight and have difficulty withstanding an environment with a lot of wind. Therefore, place a fan at the same height as your head in your lying sleeping position.
Stretch a mosquito net or mosquito net over your bed
A mosquito net, mosquito net or mosquito net is very useful to keep mosquitoes away from you. There are normal specimens but also specimens that have been impregnated with an insecticide. This way the mosquitoes stay away from the mosquito net. Choose a net that is large enough so that the net does not get in the way.Mosquito bites are annoying. However, you can treat them with an ointment or other remedies. / Source: Hans, Pixabay
Six tips to treat mosquito bites
Did you end up being bitten by a mosquito in your room? Then of course there are ways to treat your mosquito bites.
- Visit the pharmacist and ask for a good ointment against insect bites. These ointments reduce itching and swelling.
- A mosquito bite can be treated with a corticosteroid cream. This cream ensures that the swelling and itching disappear very quickly. These corticosteroids are only available with a prescription.
- Good advice is not to scratch the mosquito bites. Scratching will increase the itching even more. The poison can spread.
- Rub toothpaste with mint on the mosquito bites and the itching will reduce.
- The itching and swelling can be reduced by cooling the mosquito bite. Applying a little ice or a wet washcloth to the mosquito bite can provide relief.
- Itching and swelling after a mosquito bite is caused by the human body producing histamine. An increase in histamine in the blood causes blood vessels to expand, resulting in swelling in the tissue. Antihistamine will stop the production of histamine and therefore also the associated complaints after a mosquito bite. Antihistamine comes in the form of a tablet or as an ointment.
At what time of year are there mosquitoes?
The start of the mosquito season is difficult to determine. The mosquito season starts in the spring and is highly dependent on the temperature. As soon as the temperature rises above 10.5°C, the eggs will hatch into adult mosquitoes. Naturally, the greatest number of mosquitoes can be observed in the summer. The faster it warms up, the faster the eggs become adult mosquitoes. Mosquitoes remain present until the first frost. In countries where there is no freezing cold, mosquitoes remain present all year round.
