A Editor's note: In the dead of night, the annoying buzzing sound kept me asleep. I tried to use "physical methods" to solve the problem, but I was not agile enough, so I just slapped myself continuously. After several slaps and stroking my red and swollen cheeks, I lit up the electric mosquito coil on the bedside.
"Using science to save the crumbling mess, are you willing to clean up like this?" 》The special topic will introduce you to various methods to repel mosquitoes. Chemical or biological barriers will introduce the mechanism of mosquito repellent and the animals that prey on mosquitoes, as well as the "odor invisibility cloak" that prevents mosquitoes from finding you!
"Buzz~Buzz? Bang!" In the previous article, we compiled some devices that use physical properties to attract mosquitoes and manage them in a concentrated manner, such as mosquito traps. , electric mosquito swatter and leg hair(?). However, there are hundreds of ways to repel mosquitoes. In addition to this type of physical defense, we also have magical defense; not, I mean, other practical or crooked tricks.
Mosquito traps use physical properties to attract mosquitoes. Wikipedia Why does mosquito repellent repel mosquitoes?
The first thing we need to talk about is the familiar mosquito repellent or insect repellent (insect repellent). Human skin emits substances such as carbon dioxide and sweat, which attract mosquitoes. The main function of these chemicals is to interfere with mosquitoes' sense of smell, thereby preventing them from obtaining people's body information. In this way, we can tell them with a swaggering and motorcycle expression in front of the mosquito army: "You can't find me, ㄌㄩㄝ~"
Although the mosquito repellents in the market have their own merits, each brand They all have their own unique formulas, but they don’t contain a few effective ingredients. In terms of synthetic ingredients, the most common ones are diethyltoluamide (DEET) and Picaridin. These two ingredients are also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. , one of the most effective deworming ingredients recommended by the CDC. [1]
According to official CDC information, although anti-mosquito products containing DEET and picaridin generally do not have a negative impact on the health of ordinary people, pregnant women, or even children (especially DEET, which is available on the market Available in concentrations as high as 100%), however, these products may still cause irritation to the skin and must be used with caution. In addition, these substances will be absorbed through the skin and eliminated through urine, so it is not recommended to apply them directly to the skin. Instead, spray them on clothes, or at least separate them with a layer of lotion or primer. After all, we just want to make the mosquitoes unable to distinguish the smell, there is no need to make ourselves so unpalatable (X). Use mosquito repellent or repellent to interfere with mosquitoes' sense of smell and prevent them from accessing people's body information. GIF/Giphy Pure natural choice: essential oils
Although these ingredients can indeed reduce the chance of mosquitoes finding you, however, after all, they are things that are applied to the skin. Whether these substances are effective, reliable and safe is also Something that everyone is very concerned about.
Some people stay away from synthetic ingredients and seek the help of plant essential oils, such as lemon, citronella, geranium, eucalyptus, clove, neem oil and lavender, which are common mosquito repellent oils , coupled with the wide selection of flavors, it is deeply loved by the general public. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also lists several active ingredients that have been tested for use on the skin [2], such as p-Menthane extracted from lemon eucalyptus essential oil. -3,8-diol, PMD) and catnip (Hey, keeping a cat can also repel mosquitoes? But the key is to grow catnip), of course, including the previously mentioned DEET and picaridin.
However, everyone’s body has different “acceptance” of these flavors, and we cannot expect everyone to be familiar with the chemistry of essential oils. Excessive use of some ingredients can even damage the liver. Therefore, there is a proven experience in using them directly. Spraying anti-mosquito liquid certified by *** or EPA is still a relatively safe approach. Catnip, citronol, picaridin and DEET all have mosquito repellent properties. Wikipedia Those animals that feed on mosquitoes
If you are not very good at blending essential oils full of mysterious scents, or are not a good gardener by nature, and you will die whatever you sow, then you can also evaluate your own situation and cultivate some Animals that eat mosquitoes (don’t count on guinea pigs, it’s not their job to eat mosquitoes, pui pui is). However, I really don’t recommend keeping a pet for this reason. After all, it is a big responsibility. You should just look at it and laugh. You can evaluate your ability to raise an animal that can eat mosquitoes, but catching mosquitoes is not a guinea pig's specialty.
Kapok MUSE TW
Many animals eat mosquitoes[3], such as birds such as Purple Cliff Swallow (Progne subis), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), or Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), Red-eared turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans), tadpoles and other fish or amphibians. If your heart is big enough and your environment permits, you may consider raising some bats, spiders, geckos, dragonflies and other alternatives. The "odor invisibility cloak" made of graphene can also play a miraculous role in repelling mosquitoes
Some people are not only not good at gardening, but they are also not familiar with animal husbandry, but it doesn't matter. If you happen to be a person who loves crafts, you might as well consider taking a look at the next idea - graphene oxide (GO).
Researchers at Brown's School of Engineering published a study in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in 2019[4] , they exposed part of the skin of the subjects' arms and observed how the experimental mosquitoes "feasted" on the fresh meat in front of them on ordinary cheesecloth and GO-coated gauze.
As a result, the mosquito army seems to be indifferent to the meat covered with GO gauze. The study explains that because GO is a very strong molecular barrier, it is basically difficult for even helium atoms to penetrate it, let alone chemical signals such as CO2 and sweat that attract mosquitoes; in other words, the existence of GO is like a "scent molecule invisibility cloak" , put it on and mosquitoes won’t be able to find you. GO is like an "odor molecule invisibility cloak" for mosquitoes. Mosquito bite prevention through graphene barrier layers | PNAS
In addition, researchers also used the smell of sweat on the outside of GO to attract mosquito bites, and found that GO is so tough that it cannot be penetrated by mosquito mouthparts, but if the GO film is allowed to absorb Moisture will make it softer and mosquitoes can take advantage of it. Currently, researchers are still looking for ways to stabilize GO in the hope that it can protect against mosquito mouthparts, whether wet or dry. But what is certain is that if you don’t smear your sweat on the outside, mosquitoes can’t find you at all if you wear an invisibility cloak! (Screaming)
There are so many methods and equipment to repel mosquitoes that we can’t even prepare them, but their principles mainly make it more difficult for mosquitoes to land and suck blood.
With the right ingredients or methods, you too can say goodbye to those buzzing nights! Related tags: graphene oxide, essential oil, mosquito, anti-mosquito, anti-mosquito liquid, yahoo, nemertea, pi, radar, carnation