#Zika and Dengue Virus

[ceevee5]

Climate change - the gift that keeps on giving.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Shifting patterns of dengue three years after Zika virus emergence in Brazil

In 2015, the Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in Brazil, leading to widespread outbreaks in Latin America. Following this, many countries in these regions reported a significant drop in the circulation of dengue virus (DENV), which resurged in 2018-2019. We examine age-specific incidence data to investigate changes in DENV epidemiology before and after the emergence of ZIKV. We observe that incidence of DENV was concentrated in younger individuals during resurgence compared to 2013-2015. This trend was more pronounced in Brazilian states that had experienced larger ZIKV outbreaks. Using a mathematical model, we show that ZIKV-induced cross-protection alone, often invoked to explain DENV decline across Latin America, cannot explain the observed age-shift without also assuming some form of disease enhancement. Our results suggest that a sudden accumulation of population-level immunity to ZIKV could suppress DENV and reduce the mean age of DENV incidence via both protective and disease-enhancing interactions.

Read the paper.

[cientirinhas]

[memyself024]

FDA approves first vaccine against chikungunya

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday the approval of Ixchiq, the first vaccine against the chikungunya virus. This disease, transmitted mainly by infected mosquitoes, has been recognized as an emerging threat to global health, with more than 5 million cases reported in the last 15 years.

The approval focuses on individuals over 18 years of age with a higher risk of exposure to the virus, especially in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of the Americas, where carrier mosquitoes are endemic. Read more

[centralbiohubgermany]

Central BioHub Offers Collection of Tropical Infections Samples for Research.

A Glance at Tropical infections:

Tropical diseases are infectious diseases that are prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries with large fluctuations in climate. These are mainly vector-borne diseases caused by the infection of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Common tropical diseases are Malaria, Dengue, Tuberculosis, West Nile virus, Zika virus, Chikungunya, etc. The magnitude of tropical infections is higher in countries with greater populations, lack of sufficient resources, sanitation facilities and medical care, etc. Therefore, tropical diseases are also known as "diseases of poverty". However, disease incidence can be reduced through increased awareness, advanced treatment options, and strict prevention and control measures as public health initiatives.

Why is Tropical Diseases Research Essential?

Innovative research is the cornerstone of any disease control measures. Since tropical diseases include a multitude of diseases affecting people in different intensities, it requires a more holistic and multi-disease strategy that incorporates multi sectoral actions, collaborative initiatives, and cost-effective interventions to achieve better management of diseases during outbreak and prevent outbreak. Besides, the growing incidence of diseases warrants fueling up of tropical research.

Access 1000 + tropical infection specimens in a few clicks

Igniting tropical medicine research globally, Central BioHub offers a comprehensive collection of tropical infection samples derived from patients with Malaria, Tuberculosis, Dengue fever, Chikungunya, West Nile disease, and Zika virus. We provide hyper-annotated, high-quality human serum and plasma samples tested for specific disease antibodies to scientists worldwide, expanding the scope for advanced tropical infection research. We provide a wide range of tropical disease samples derived ethically from suspected and clinically confirmed patients of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. To validate the diseases, the biospecimens are subjected to specific antibody testing and PCR testing before being stored in sterile cryogenic units at our biobank. Check out the latest inventory of tropical disease biospecimens here: https://centralbiohub.de/biospecimens/tropical-infections

Central BioHub, a user-friendly, open-access, fast and secure online marketplace for purchasing ideal human biospecimens tested for tropical infections. As furst biospecimen distributor, Central BioHub is available in your pockets. Download and start using the Central BioHub mobile app and enjoy seamless biospecimen acquisition. For iOS downloads, click here: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/central-biohub/id1618181521 or for android, click here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.centralbiohub&hl=en

[reasonsforhope]

Pairing frogs and toads together might conjure memories of Arnold Lobel’s beloved characters — dressed to the nines in caramel coats and polyester — biking off toward adventure. 

But in the animal world, frogs and toads on nearly every continent are facing a much more harrowing adventure: a decades-long fight against a mysterious fungal virus that has afflicted over 500 amphibian species. 

Since the 1990s, scientists estimate that the chytridiomycosis disease caused by the fungal pathogen Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has led to the extinction of 90 amphibians. One of the lost species includes the Panamanian golden frog, which hasn’t been spotted in the wild since 2009. 

Fortunately, a new research study has finally pinpointed the virus that has been infecting fungal genomes for decades. 

“Bd is a generalist pathogen and is associated with the decline of over 500 amphibian species…here, we describe the discovery of a novel DNA mycovirus of Bd,” wrote Mark Yacoub — the lead author of the study and a microbiology doctoral student at the University of California, Riverside. 

In an interview with UC Riverside News, Yacoub said that he and microbiology professor Jason Stajich observed the viral genome while studying the broader population genetics of mycovirus (viruses of fungi). 

The discovery will undoubtedly have monumental impacts on future amphibian conservation efforts. This includes the possible launching of new research studies into fungal species strains, the practice of cloning and observing spores, and engineering a solution to the virus. 

But Yacoub cautioned that this is only the beginning. 

“We don’t know how the virus infects the fungus, how it gets into the cells,” Yacoub said. “If we’re going to engineer the virus to help amphibians, we need answers to questions like these.”

Still, as scientists strengthen conservation efforts to save frogs and toads (and salamanders too!) they also appear to be saving themselves. Yacoub pointed out several amphibian species around the world have begun exhibiting resistance to Bd. 

“Like with COVID, there is a slow buildup of immunity,” Yacoub explained. “We are hoping to assist nature in taking its course.”

Pictured: A Golden poison frog — one of the many species endangered by chytridiomycosis — in captivity.

Why are frogs and toads so important?

From the get go, every amphibian species plays an important role in their local ecosystem. Not only are they prey for a slew of animals like lizards, snakes, otters, birds, and more, but in an eat-or-be-eaten world, frogs and toads benefit the food chain by doing both. 

Even freshly hatched tadpoles — no bigger than a button — can reduce contamination in their surrounding pond water by nibbling on algae blooms. 

As they grow bigger (and leggier), amphibians snack on whatever insect comes their way, greatly reducing the population of harmful pests and making a considerable dent in the transmission malaria, dengue, and Zika fever by eating mosquito larvae. 

“Frogs control bad insects, crop pests, and mosquitoes,” Yacoub said. “If their populations all over the world collapse, it could be devastating.” 

Yacoub also pointed out that amphibians are the “canary in the coal mine of climate change,” because they are an indicator species. Frogs and toads have permeable skin, making them sensitive to changes in their environment, and they also rely on freshwater. 

When amphibians vanish from an ecosystem, it’s a symptom of greater environmental issues...

Herpetologist Maureen Donnelly echoed Yacoub’s sentiments in an interview with Phys Org, noting that when it comes to food chains, biodiversity, and environmental impact, the role of frogs and toads should not be overlooked. 

“Conservation must be a global team effort,” Donnelly said. “We are the stewards of the planet and are responsible for all living creatures.”

-via GoodGoodGood, April 22, 2024

[macgyvermedical]

Incubation Periods List

Hi all!

The following is a list of incubation periods for various infectious diseases for all your writing needs. An incubation period is the amount of time between exposure to an infectious agent (bacteria, virus, protozoa or prion) and the person having the first symptoms of the resulting illness. Knowing this is helpful in creating a timeline for your story.

Anthrax: Incubation period of 1-60 days

Avian Flu: Incubation period 3-9 days

Botulism: Incubation period 12-72 hours

Chikungunya: Incubation period 3-7 days

Chlamydia: incubation period 7-21 days

COVID-19: Incubation period 5-10 days

Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease: Incubation period 10-20 years

Dengue: Incubation period 5-7 days

Diphtheria: Incubation period 2-5 days

Ebola: Incubation period 2-21 days

Hantavirus: incubation period 1-8 weeks

Hepatitis A: incubation period about 28 days

Herpes: Incubation period 2-12 days

Herpes Zoster/Varicella (Chickenpox): Incubation period 14-16 days

Herpes Zoster (Shingles): Incubation period- technically none, as this is a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox

HIB: Incubation period 2-10 days

HIV: Incubation period 1-6 weeks to prodrome, approximately 10 years to AIDS

Influenza: Incubation period 1-4 days

Legionnaires Disease: Incubation period 5-6 days

Leprosy: Incubation period 9 months to 20 years

Lyme Disease: Incubation period 3-30 days

Malaria: Incubation period 7-30 days

Measles: Incubation period 10-12 days

Meningitis, Bacterial: Incubation period 2-10 days

Meningitis, Viral: Incubation period 3-10 days

Monkeypox: Incubation period 1-2 weeks

Mumps: Incubation period 16-18 days

Norovirus: Incubation period 12-48 hours

Pertussis: Incubation period 7-10 days

Plague: Incubation period 2-8 days

Pneumococcal Pneumonia: Incubation period 1-3 days

Polio: Incubation period 7-10 days

Q-Fever: Incubation period 2-3 weeks

Rabies: Incubation period 20-90 days

RSV: Incubation period 4-6 days

Smallpox: Incubation period 7-17 days

Syphilis: Incubation period 10-90 days

Tetanus: Incubation period 3-21 days

Tuberculosis: Incubation period 2-10 days

Typhoid: Incubation period 6-30 days

Typhus: Incubation period 1-2 weeks

West Nile Virus: Incubation period 2-6 days

Yellow Fever: Incubation period 3-6 days

Zika: Incubation period 3-14 days

[kon-igi]

VERRÀ LA MORTE E BERRÀ IL TUO SANGUE

(Prima parte di una serie divulgativa sulla prossima apocalisse pandemica)

Buongiorno, bambini! Chi mi sa dire qual è l'animale più pericoloso sul pianeta terra?

Il leone! Lo squalo! L'orca sassina! La tigre! Il gorilla! Il rinoceronte! I fascisti di forza nuova!

Gigino ricordami di non lasciarti tutto il giorno con zio Stanislao, comunque, no bambini... l'animale che ha ucciso più esseri umani nei nostri secoli di storia è...

... la zanzara!

Repubblica.it dice che ha sterminato 50 miliardi di persone nei nostri 300.000 anni di storia ma siccome sarò anche vostro papà però anche un castoro senza pollice opponibile non ho possibilità di verificare le fonti in modo approfondito.

Diciamo, però, che le zanzare sono praticamente ovunque, tranne in Islanda e ai poli, e nei millenni di convivenza con l'uomo sono diventate un vettore preferenziale per molti virus che si sono mutati per replicarsi all'interno delle loro ghiandole saliv...

Anche il raffreddore?

No, Genoveffa, solo alcuni patogen...

Anche l'aids dei finocchi?

No, Balilla... e ricordami di non lasciarti tutto il giorno con zio Benito. Ecco, vi ho appena inviato sui vostri tablet la lista di virus, batteri e parassiti trasmissibili dalla famiglia delle Culicidae (che sarebbero le zanzare).

Malaria Chikungunya Filariasi Dirofilariasi Dengue Zika West Nile Virus Febbre gialla Febbre della Rift Valley Encefalite giapponese Encefalite di Saint Louis Encefalite LaCrosse Encefalite equina orientale Encefalite equina occidentale Encefalite equina venezuelana Febbre di Ross River Febbre da Barmah Forest

Naturalmente non tutte le 3540 specie di zanzara trasmettono tutte queste malattie sia perché non tutti i patogeni sono adatti a replicarsi in ogni ghiandola salivare sia perché molte malattie sono tipiche di un paese specifico con un certo tipo di zanzara che sopravvive solo con un certo clima.

A tale proposito, mi premeva farvi notare come quando io ero giovane non solo saltavo i fossi per il lungo e invece voi vi fate venire la tendinite da smartphone ma d'inverno venivano quattro metri di neve e l'estate si poteva stare a torso nudo senza morire di ustioni attiniche di 4° grado e questo è colpa de...

Delle scie chimiche massoniche dei poteri forti!

No, Giustino… e ricordami di non lasciarti tutto il giorno con zio Beppe.

È colpa del cambiamento climatico che ha portato a una tropicalizzazione di latitudini dove normalmente le zanzare tropicali vettrici di tali virus non sarebbero sopravvissute.

Siccome, a dispetto di quanto gli italiani credano, noi castori siamo una specie che fino al 1540 ha popolato per secoli lo stivale (salvo poi diventare tutti copricapi), ho le carte di cittadinanza in regola per parlare di tale paese e pubblicare questa mappa:

con cui nel 2008 si registrava l'iniziale presenza della zanzara Aedes albopictus, la cosiddetta Zanzara Tigre, che ha quasi completamente soppiantato la meno feroce Culex pipiens, la nostra 'vecchia' zanzara monocolore che pungeva solo di notte

(albo+pictus, pitturata di bianco... anche se a me sembrano pallini e non le presunte strisce di una tigre)

e di seguito una vecchia proiezione statistica - oggi realtà - su come si sarebbe riprodotta ed espansa

Voglio dirvi però, piccoli castorini, che le quattro malattie che puntualmente gli italiani si ritrovano a scoprirsi addosso ogni estate (Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya e Febbre da West Nile Virus) in realtà hanno modalità di incubazione e trasmissione che le rendono meno pericolose di quanto sembra, perché ci devono essere parecchi fattori concomitanti per la comparsa:

PRIMA DI TUTTO CI VUOLE UNA ZANZARA INFETTA

Graziarca' mi direte voi ma considerate che una zanzara può replicare il virus nelle proprie ghiandole salivari solo se punge una persona infetta in fase attiva, quindi non nei prima 4-7 giorni della comparsa dei sintomi e non dopo 15 giorni.

La zanzara può infettare solo dopo 7-10 giorni (tempo di replicazione nelle ghiandole) e dal momento che una zanzara ne vive solo 30, il tempo utile è poco (il virus non si trasmette da zanzara a zanzara o alle uova).

Oltretutto non è detto che la carica virale dell'umano infetto sia sufficiente alla replicazione nella zanzara o che la puntura della zanzara abbia sufficiente carica virale da infettare.

Quegli R0 e Rt esponenziali che abbiamo visto con il Covid scordateli, insomma.

Infatti, tranne l'ultimo caso di Dengue del 70enne lodigiano che è sempre rimasto in Italia, tutte le infezioni sono state contratte all'estero e 'portate' senza grosse conseguenze in Italia.

La mia è un'intuizione e quindi vale solo per fare apocalisse zombie su tumblr ma credo che se si cominciasse a fare titolazioni anticorpali tra la popolazione, sono quasi sicuro che verrebbero fuori MOLTE persone positive a vecchie infezioni causate da questi virus.

Perché i sintomi comuni a tutte queste infezioni sono spossatezza, mal di testa, dolori articolari e difficoltà alla concentrazione...

Praticamente io sono ammalato di Dengue ogni Lunedì.

Seguiranno approfondimenti su modalità di manifestazione e trattamento.

Grazie dell'attenzione e dell'eventuale gentile reblog di condivisione.

[bunnywip]

𝘼-𝙕 𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙄𝙎𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀𝙎/𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙉𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙀𝙎 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙎𝙄𝘾𝙆𝙁𝙄𝘾/𝙒𝙃𝙐𝙈𝙋

— A

Anemia.

Adenomyosis.

Asthma.

Arterial thrombosis.

Allergies.

Anxiety.

Angel toxicosis ( fictional ).

Acne.

Anorexia nervosa.

Anthrax.

Atma virus ( fictional ).

ADHD.

Agoraphobia.

Astrocytoma.

AIDS.

— B

Breast cancer.

Bunions.

Borderline personality disorder.

Botulism.

Barrett's esophagus.

Bowel polyps.

Brucellosis.

Bipolar disorder.

Bronchitis.

Bacterial vaginosis.

Binge eating disorder.

— C

Crohn's disease.

Conjunctivitis.

Coronavirus disease.

Coeliac disease.

Chronic migranes.

Coup.

Cushing syndrome.

Cystic fibrosis.

Cellulitis.

Coma.

Cooties  ( fictional ).

COPD.

Chickenpox.

Cholera.

Cerebral palsy.

Chlamydia.

Constipation.

Cancer.

Common cold.

Chronic pain.

— D

Diabetes.

Dyslexia.

Dissociative identify disorder.

Dengue fever.

Delirium.

Deep vein thrombosis.

Dementia.

Dysthimia.

Diphtheria.

Diarrhoea.

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.

Dyspraxia.

Dehydration.

— E

Ebola.

Endometriosis.

Epilepsy.

E-coli.

Ectopic pregnancy.

Enuresis.

Erectile dysfunction.

Exzema.

— F

Fusobacterium infection.

Filariasis.

Fibromyalgia.

Fascioliasis.

Fever.

Food poisoning.

Fatal familial insomnia.

— G

Gonorrhoea.

Ganser syndrome.

Gas gangrene.

Giardiasis.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gall stones.

Glandular fever.

Greyscale ( fictional ).

Glanders.

— H

Hookworm infection.

Hand, foot and mouth disease.

Hypoglycaemia.

Herpes.

Headache.

Hanahaki disease ( fictional ).

Hyperhidrosis.

Heat stroke.

Heat exhaustion.

Heart failure.

High blood pressure.

Human papillomavirus infection.

Hypersomnia.

HIV.

Heart failure.

Hay fever.

Hepatitis.

Hemorrhoids.

— I

Influenza.

Iron deficiency anemia.

Indigestion.

Inflammatory bowel disease.

Insomnia.

Irritable bowel syndrome.

Intercranial hypertension.

Impetigo.

— K

Keratitis.

Kidney stones.

Kidney infection.

Kawasaki disease.

Kaposi's sarcoma.

— L

Lyme disease.

Lassa fever.

Low blood pressure.

Lupus.

Lactose intolerance.

Lymphatic filariasis.

Leprosy.

— M

Measles.

Mad cow disease.

Mumps.

Major depressive disorder.

Malaria.

Malnutrition.

Motor neurone disease.

Mutism.

Mouth ulcer.

Monkeypox.

Multiple sclerosis.

Meningitis.

Menopause.

Mycetoma.

— N

Norovirus.

Nipah virus infection.

Narcolepsy.

Nosebleed.

Nocardiosis.

— O

Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Osteoporosis.

Ovarian cyst.

Overactive thyroid.

Oral thrush.

Otitis externa.

— P

Pancreatic cancer.

Pneumonia.

Pelvic inflammatory disease.

PICA.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Psoriasis.

Parkinson's disease.

Panic disorder.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Plague.

Postpartum depression.

Pediculosis capitis.

Psychosis.

Post-traumatic stress disorder.

— Q

Q fever.

Quintan fever.

— R

Rubella.

Rabbit fever.

Rotavirus infection.

Ringworm.

Restless legs syndrome.

Rhinovirus infection.

Rosacea.

Relapsing fever.

Rheumatoid arthritis.

Rabies.

— S

Shingles.

Sore throat.

Stutter.

Separation anxiety disorder.

Smallpox.

Scoliosis.

Septic shock.

Shigellosis.

Sepsis.

Social anxiety disorder.

Stroke.

Scarlet fever.

Schizophrenia.

Sleep apnea.

Sun burn.

Syphilis.

Sickle cell disease.

Scabies.

Selective mutism.

Salmonella.

Sensory processing disorder.

— T

Thyroid cancer.

Tuberculosis.

Thirst.

Trichuriasis.

Tinea pedis.

Tourette's syndrome.

Trachoma.

Tetanus.

Toxic shock syndrome.

Tinnitus.

Thyroid disease.

Typhus fever.

Tonsillitis.

Thrush.

— U

Urinary tract infection.

Underactive thyroid.

— V

Valley fever.

Vertigo.

Vomiting.

— W

White piedra.

Withdrawal.

Whooping cough.

West nile fever.

— X

Xerophthalmia.

— Y

Yersiniosis.

Yellow fever.

— Z

Zygomycosis.

Zika fever.

Zeaspora.

[cmu1]

Un poco acerca de algunos animales que nos rodean

Oscar Lepe, Alejandro Várguez, Javier Guadarrama, Ferrán Rosas.

Descubramos las Razas de Gatos que Viven Más Tiempo

¿Sabías que algunos gatos pueden vivir mucho más tiempo que otros? En este artículo, exploraremos las cinco razas de gatos que destacan por su longevidad. Según PetMD, el promedio de vida de un gato oscila entre los 13 y 17 años, pero estas razas tienen la capacidad de superar esa expectativa. Desde los elegantes siameses hasta los tranquilos burmeses, estas razas ofrecen compañía felina durante muchos años. Esta investigación nos hace conocer cinco razas extraordinarias y sus cuidados, dirigido a dueños de mascotas interesados en la salud y bienestar de sus gatos.

Ahora te pregunto, ¿Qué aspectos consideras más importantes al elegir una raza de gato, la longevidad o características específicas de personalidad y apariencia?

Tipo de texto científico de divulgación.

El facinante mundo de los Anfibios: Facinante

Los anfibios desempeñan un papel crucial en la regulación de poblaciones de insectos como mosquitos, ayudando a prevenir enfermedades como el virus del dengue, zika y chikungunya. Sin embargo, el crecimiento urbano ha llevado a la disminución de los anfibios, privándonos de este beneficio. Recientemente, se descubrió que la piel de la rana leopardo contiene sustancias que podrían tratar el virus del zika y posiblemente el dengue. Además, la Rana Incubadora Gástrica, que incubaba sus huevos en su estómago para proteger a su progenie, inspiró el desarrollo de la ranitidina, un medicamento para úlcera y reflujo. Lamentablemente, esta especie se extinguió en 2002 debido a la quitridiomicosis, una enfermedad fúngica que afecta a los anfibios.

¿Interesante no? ¿Conoces algo especial de algún anfibio o te interesaría conocer más acerca de ellos?

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

The virus behind an outbreak in Brazil can spread from mother to fetus

Transmission of Oropouche to the womb means it has a feature in common with Zika and dengue

A virus that caused a large outbreak in Brazil this year can spread from a pregnant woman to the fetus. The confirmation of several cases of transmission to the womb means that the virus, called Oropouche, has a feature in common with two other insect-borne viruses, Zika and dengue.

A 40-year-old woman’s stillbirth this summer in Brazil was linked to transmission of the virus from the woman to the fetus, researchers report October 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine. (The World Health Organization defines a stillbirth as the death of a fetus after 28 weeks of pregnancy.) The Brazilian Ministry of Health has also confirmed two other deaths due to the spread of Oropouche virus to the womb: a stillbirth to a 28-year-old woman and a baby born with congenital anomalies who died after 47 days. There are other potential cases of transmission to the womb being investigated.

As of mid-October, Brazil has reported more than 8,000 cases of Oropouche fever since the beginning of the year. It’s the largest outbreak in the Americas this year; some of the other countries with cases include Peru, with more than 900, and Cuba, with more than 500. Infections can cause fever, chills, joint pain and severe headaches, among other symptoms. The virus is spread mainly by the bite of Culicoides paraensis midges, which are very small flies, and sometimes by mosquitoes. As with Zika, there aren’t any medicines to treat Oropouche fever or vaccines that target the virus.

Continue reading.

[macmanx]

Researchers say mosquito-borne illnesses are on the rise across the U.S., Central and South America and Europe, thanks to warming temperatures and other factors. And while West Nile virus remains the most common in the U.S., many other mosquito-borne illnesses – including Zika, malaria and dengue – are also a concern.

[memyself024]

Jamaica Declares Dengue Outbreak With Hundreds of Confirmed and Suspected Cases

[jeusussavearmyveteran1205]

A single dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes a day. I swear by this trick to attracting dragonflies and getting rid of all the mosquitoes

Morgan Reed

Contributing Writer

The battle against mosquitoes can feel never-ending, especially during warmer months when these pesky insects are at their peak. Apart from being annoying, mosquitoes pose health risks as carriers of diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika virus. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that finding an effective way to eliminate mosquitoes is a priority for many people. Fortunately, nature provides a simple yet efficient solution: dragonflies! These incredible insects can consume hundreds of mosquitoes each day, offering a sustainable method of mosquito control.

If you're tired of using chemical-laden repellent sprays and seeking a more natural way to get rid of mosquitoes, then this article is for you. By attracting dragonflies to your garden or outdoor space, you can significantly reduce the mosquito population around your home. Read on to discover the steps and tips that will turn your yard into a dragonfly haven and create a mosquito-free environment.

Why Dragonflies Are the Best Mosquito Predators

Dragonflies are not just beautiful to look at; they are also voracious mosquito predators. An adult dragonfly can eat up to hundreds of mosquitoes in a single day. Their predatorial skills are unmatched, making them a key player in controlling mosquito populations naturally.

Creating a Dragonfly-Friendly Environment

Attracting dragonflies to your backyard is easier than you might think. Here’s how you can make your garden inviting for these beneficial insects:

1. Build a Pond

Dragonflies lay their eggs in water, so having a pond or water feature in your garden is crucial. It doesn't have to be a large pond; a small one will do. Ensure it has shallow edges and some aquatic plants to mimic a natural habitat.

2. Add Native Plants

Planting native grasses and blooming plants around your pond will provide perching spots for dragonflies to rest and hunt. Native plants are more likely to attract insects that dragonfly larvae feed on, ensuring they have a food source.

3. Avoid Using Pesticides

Pesticides can be harmful to dragonflies. Avoid using chemical pesticides in your garden to create a safe environment for these insects. Instead, focus on natural pest control methods.

4. Install Flat Rocks

Dragonflies love to bask in the sun, and flat rocks provide the perfect surface for them to do so. Place some flat rocks around your pond area to attract sunbathing dragonflies.

5. Keep Water Clean

Dragonflies need clean water for their larvae to thrive. Ensure your pond's water is clear of pollutants and populated with beneficial creatures like aquatic snails that help keep the water clean.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to attracting dragonflies and reducing your mosquito problem naturally. Not only will you enjoy a more pleasant outdoor experience, but you'll also enhance your garden's ecosystem.

[kingdrawcse]

The chemistry behind mosquito's bite!

Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) are the bane of summer, known for their aggressive bites that cause intense itching and can trigger severe allergic reactions. The yellow fever mosquito, a species that has spread globally from its origins in Africa, is one of the most widespread and is a vector for diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus.

Female mosquitoes are attracted to compounds like ammonia, carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and "Oct-1-en-3-ol" emitted by mammals. The yellow fever mosquito shows a particular preference for "(+)-Oct-1-en-3-ol," found in human breath and sweat. This compound, also known as "mushroom alcohol," is a key contributor to the smell of mushrooms and is present in various plants and fungi. Studies have found that mosquito repellents containing DEET and PMD are more effective at repelling Aedes mosquitoes compared to other ingredients.