In effect, your blood is providing the albumen (the 'white') of the mosquitoes' eggs. It therefore follows that it is only the female mosquito that 'bites'. In the process of sucking your blood, the mosquito squirts some liquids into you. It is not fully understood what these juices contain, but one is an anti-coagulant to keep your blood flowing and another might be a pain-killer so you do not feel the proboscis going into your pore. Some think that there might also be an antiseptic, but it is not accepted by every one.

Some mosquitoes also introduce other parasites into you, which can result in diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever and Japanese jungle encephalopathy. Mosquitoes are to blame for killing millions of people every year. Luckily the fluid that they inject comes from another source other than where they store the blood they have already taken, otherwise they could distribute AIDS as well.

Having said all that, another oblique cause for concern is in the prevention of mosquito bites. The single most effective way of stopping mosquitoes landing on you is spreading mosquito repellent on your skin, and the most successful mosquito repellents contain DEET. However, it is now considered that the frequent use of DEET can cause neurological problems. Consequently, it worth looking for natural mosquito repellents.

Unfortunately, there is no mosquito repellent as reliable as DEET, but some combinations of treatments are nearly as effective. For instance, some people say that mosquitoes are attracted to people who have eaten bananas, so you could avoid bananas if you are near mosquitoes. Others say that mosquitoes are less likely to go for people who have consumed garlic or Yeastvite or Bovril.

Mosquitoes abhor the smell of lemons, so a local application of lemon juice is very efficient although the effect only lasts about thirty or forty minutes. However, there is a plant called the citronella and this deters mosquitoes equally as well. The citronella does not smell of lemons unless it is disturbed, but then it is very aromatic.

Grow them in pots on your window sills, on your deck or on your patio. The wind blowing through them is sufficient to release the smell. You can also collect the dead leaves and put them in your pillow. You could also rub green leaves straight onto your skin.

There are quite a few natural mosquito repellents, but they do not all work for everyone and nobody understands why. One theory is that diet and alcohol affect your appeal to mosquitoes. It is also possible that mosquitoes in different regions like different types of people, so it is always worth asking for local advice.

Owen Jones publishes articles on various topics, but is currently concerned with Hand Held Insect Killer devices and stationary units at Electronic Insect Killers.

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