Brett Davis - AsiaLIFE Magazine

Skeeter Beaters
Unconventional weapons and holistic household approaches in the war against
mosquitoes. By Alexandra Karina. Photo by Fred Wissink.
I’m the biggest mosquito target
in my family and among my
friends. I hate the little buggers
with a vengeance—and vengeance
I do take. I recently spent
a good half-hour hunting down
the eight mozzies throwing me a
housewarming party.
DEET-based OFF! bug spray
and I were best buds until
I became wary of chemical
sprays. I’m inhaling more than
enough toxins strolling down
Hai Ba Trung, thanks. Since
we’ve parted ways, I’ve tried
just about every DIY mosquito
solution under the sun in finding
my ultimate combination for
effective mozzie protection.
Wearing loose-fitting
long-sleeve tops and pants in
light, breathable fabrics, using
citronella candles and incense,
avoiding bananas—all common
advice that work to an extent.
Beyond those basics, however,
there are many weapons you
can add to your arsenal in the
fight against blood theft.
Avoid Mosquito Attractants
Dark and bright clothing and
accessories attract mosquitoes
from a distance. Red, blue
and black are particularly
eye-catching to the hungry
swarms.
Fruity and floral fragrances
are the equivalent of hanging
an “All You Can Eat” sign out
for mozzies. While perfumes
do so most effectively, shampoos,
lotions, sunscreens,
deodorants, cosmetics,
detergents and various other
products in your hygienic arsenal
are potential attractants
as well. The scents may seem
subtle, but they’re capable of
hooking skeeters by the nose
from 20 to 35 metres away once
activated by your body heat.
Heat brings mosquitoes
a-calling due to the infra-red
radiation your hot bod gives
off. If you’re on the go, splash
your skin with water to take off
a few degrees.
Perspiration paints a huge
bulls-eye on your body, both
due to the increased humidity
enveloping you and the chemicals
in your sweat. If you just
can’t acclimate to the tropics,
consider prescription-strength
deodorant/antiperspirant.
CO2 is released in larger
amounts after exercise and
in hot weather. Candles and
incense also give off CO2, so
reach for a citronella-scented
one.
Lactic acid also releases after
exercising or consuming foods
high in salt or potassium (hence
the advice to avoid bananas).
Fortify Your Home
Damp, cool areas and standing
water are notorious mosquito
hangouts, since the buggers
become dehydrated easily. Keep
those bathroom doors closed,
and look for pits and shallow
surfaces during the rainy
season.
Dirty laundry contains your
sweat and chemical scent, so
don’t be surprised if you find
the vampires congregating
there, particularly if the pile
contains gym shorts or evening
wear.
Netting is one of the most
effective weapons in the fight
against skeeters. Why stop at
the bed, though? For a DIY
window screen that works with
Vietnamese windows, cut and
fit netting over the iron bars
and fasten the four corners
with screws or adhesive hooks.
For better protection, tape up
the sides that won’t get in the
way of accessing the window.
If you’re renting a room in a
house that’s ridden with the
buggers, consider a DIY bedroom
door screen.
Fans keep you cool on the
cheap while keeping mosquitoes,
which can only fly at 8
mph at best, at bay.
Essential oils including
citronella, eucalyptus, catnip,
tansy, rosemary, lavender, basil,
thyme, peppermint or garlic
keep mozzies at a distance.
Include them in your garden or
arrange them in potted plants to
create a natural mozzie barrier
in and around your home. Steep
the herbs and flowers in vodka
for a room spray or in a carrier
oil such as soybean oil for an
anti-skeeter skin spray. Several
other plants will keep mozzies
away, but not all are safe to use
as sprays.
An aquarium or a fish pond
of fathead minnows, guppies
or mosquito fish will keep
mosquito levels down. The
bloodsuckers breed in the still
water, and the fish love feeding
on mini mozzies.
Geckos are my favourite pets in
Vietnam. They never demand
attention, make a mess or leave
me with a huge food bill—they
feed on mozzies!
Bite First Aid
Baking soda mixed with just
enough H2O to make a paste
is all it takes to bring swelling
down and stop the itch. If you
have bites that have scabbed
over from relentless scratching,
don’t be surprised if you find
the closed wounds covered by
crystallized, amber-hued beads
after a few hours; the baking
soda will draw the toxins out
from under the scab.
Meat tenderizer can neutralize
allergic reactions to the mosquito’s
anticoagulant. Ironic to
be using meat tenderizer after
having been made a meal of.
Tea tree essential oil, calamine
lotion, cortisone cream, antihistamine
meds and ice packs
can help sooth the itch.
Smack yourself to get the blood
and antihistamines flowing.
Compress and release the bite
area to help the toxins disperse.
Fight the urge to scratch. You’ll
make things worse.
Stay hydrated, as dehydration
will magnify bite reactions.
56 asialife HCMC asialife HCMC 57