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(CNN) – For summer beach fans, the shark threat may be imminent, but nature’s most deadly predators are actually much smaller.
Small mosquitoes are not only a nuisance in warm weather, According to historian Dr. Timothy C. Weingard, he wears the crown of “The First Murderer of Mankind beyond our existence.” Predatory insects kill more than 1 million lives each year by transmitting lethal disease. Meanwhile, it is estimated that sharks have fewer killstreaks in less than 10 people a year.
Mosquitoes continue to follow, wondering where humans are going. The pathogens that cause their itchy bites and the diseases they carry are notorious, and insects are also responsible for driving many of the most important tipping points of humanity throughout history, said Weingard, author of “Mosquitoes: Human History of Our Most Deadly Predators.”
“Malaria and yellow fever are shaping (shaping) our historical journey from the evolution of our human ancestors…modern right.”
Associate Professor of History at Colorado Mesa University, Weingard got the first idea of his bestselling book from his father’s interest in malaria.
Weepest initially didn’t really intrigue Wineguard. “I patted him and said, ‘Father, I write a book about mosquitoes,'” he recalled. However, as the wine guards began to descend rabbit holes of mosquito-borne pathogens’ effects on humans, they were not limited to malaria, Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, cikunguña, and West Nile virus.
The impact of mosquitoes on history is still deeply felt today. Over half a million people die from malaria alone each year, resulting in areas with high illnesses suffering financially. “There is no endemic malaria in the Northern Hemisphere. (Yes) they don’t suffer constantly from malaria, so they can develop a wealthier economy,” Weingard said.
You can listen to the full episode here.
Humans have fought mosquitoes for thousands of years. Amidst the seasonal summer peaks in the Northern Hemisphere, Wineguard provided insights into how to keep them away this summer.
“85% of what you’re attractive or attractive to mosquitoes are pre-engulfed in your genetic circuit board,” says Winegard. However, there are several ways to manage mosquitoes. He has these five tips.
Liquor makes it easier for mosquitoes to meet you, Wineguard said.
Mosquitoes hunt visually, but do not see the world like people do. Predatory insects employ heat or infrared vision. “They see the heat signature,” pointed out Wineguard.
“Consuming alcohol increases your temperature,” he explained in an email.
So maybe instead of that beer, you’ll reach for a refreshing glass of water or lemonade.
In addition to using heat-based vision, mosquitoes drive humans primarily through smells.
The mosquitoes can “sniff carbon dioxide more than 200 feet (60 meters) away,” Wineguard said.
“So if you exercise or breathe heavily, they’ll smell it and be attracted to it,” Weingard told Gupta.
Just like alcohol, Winegard recommends keeping itself as cool as possible, as the higher the CO2 emissions, the easier it will be to detect mosquito heat signatures.
This applies to the wardrobe as well. “Dark clothing holds relatively heat,” he said. Therefore, it is best to choose brightly colored long sleeve outfits that keep mosquitoes at bay.
Applying insect repellents is the gold standard for mosquito management, but if you are not careful when applying it, you can leave it vulnerable to bites.
“I know people who foam themselves, but they will miss this little place behind the calves and she will find a cry in our armor,” the Weinguard told Gupta, referring to the female mosquito, a blood-browing hunter.
Mosquito repellents are different from perfumes, and some spritz can cover the whole body. If you are spraying, make sure to thoroughly.
“Deet (chemical repellent) remains the gold standard, and lemon eucalyptus oil is a plant-based option,” says Winegard.
To add security, he noticed that some of the clothes were pretreated with a mosquito-targeted insecticide called permethrin.
Cool drinks on pool days and outdoors provide a rest from human heat, but are also attractive for mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes place their eggs in quiet water – and they are not needed much.
“From the pond or stream, from the bottom of an old container, used tires, or backyard toys (even if the bottle cap is full, there’s enough to be enough,” Wineguard said in an email. Even in flooded soil, motherly mosquitoes are enough to lay eggs.
Winegard recommended that you eliminate any water standing around your home or garden to minimize potential mosquito breeding grounds.
Another way to fight herds this summer is to consider skipping a shower or two.
“It smells good!” said Wineguard. “It’s good to be spicy and munched, because it increases bacterial levels in the skin and makes it less attractive to mosquitoes.”
This may anger others, but Winegard tells you to skip scented products: deodorizers, soaps and other applied fragrances are all attractive to mosquitoes.
One exception is your feet. “Clean your feet,” he told Gupta. “The bacteria on our feet are the same as ripening many cheeses and are aphrodisiacs for mosquitoes.”
Winegard pointed out that this is why many of us get bitten around our ankles and legs. “So wash your feet!” he urged.
Mosquitoes don’t mind most personal traits you can objectively see.
“There is absolutely no truth to the enduring myth that mosquitoes prefer flashy women over men, blondes or redheads over people with thick hair, or the thicker skin your skin, the safer you are from her biting,” Wineguard said.
However, he said, “She plays more favourites and feasts than others.”
What seduces mosquitoes? “Blood type O appears to be a vintage choice over Type A and B or a blend of them,” he said. “People with blood type get bitten twice as often as type A people, and Type B falls somewhere in between.”
The creator of the 1998 film “A Bug’s Life” said he must have done his homework when he portrayed a tipsy mosquito that ordered “Bloody Mary, O Positive.”
Maybe it’s a mosquito world, Wineguard suggests, and people just live in it.
We hope these five tips keep mosquitoes at bay. Listen to the full episode here. Join us in a new episode of Chasing Life Podcast next week.
