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The Life and Mind of DamnBlackHeart
This is to help me stay actively writing. So expect to see rants, tips on writing, thoughts on subjects, me complaining of boredom, reviews, anime, movies, video games, conventions, tv shows and whatever life throws at me.
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Avoiding Insects In The Zombie Apocalypse |
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In the midst of the zombie invasion, you might imagine parasites and biting insects such as fleas, mosquitoes and ticks will be the least of your worries. Think about it though; if a flea can spread diseases and illnesses such as the bubonic plague, myxomatosis or endemic typhus, what makes you so sure they couldn’t pass on a zombie virus or infection? Do you really want to risk fighting off zombie hordes only to be infected by an insect bite?
Mosquitoes: They are small flying insects that feed on mammals, birds and some species even feed on reptiles. Some can also feed on plant juices and/or nectar. There are about 2,500 species of mosquitoes worldwide and about 180 in the United States. It is only the female mosquitoes that bite because they need the proteins that are found within blood for proper egg development. Mosquitoes usually become infected from feeding on infected birds.
One thing we can be thankful for is that mosquitoes do not feed on dead animals or people, which suggests that zombies would not be part of their diet. According to Discover Magazine, even the fact that the undead are up and moving about doesn’t seem to change their status in the eyes of the mosquito:
“Mosquitoes use various cues to find food, but above all they are olfactory creatures. Breath and body vapors draw them to their animal hosts, as well as body temperature."
Therefore, it stands to reason that a cold, rotting zombie would look nothing like a living, breathing human to a mosquito. But the real concern is the possibility that a newly infected person – still alive and kicking – may be able to spread the infection before they even shows any signs of being sick. If that were the case, and if the zombie incubation period is as long as days or weeks, then entire populations could be infected before anyone even knows there’s a problem.
One strategy to prevent mosquito bites is avoidance. But even if one were to remain indoors throughout the mosquito season, they might still encounter mosquitoes. Besides, it’s quite unlikely that a person will be able to stay indoors when there’s an zombie apocalypse happening. So your best bet is to use repellents, which are the first line of defense against mosquito bites.
Keep in mind that in order to avoid mosquitoes you need to know a bit about them.
Weeds, tall grass and shrubbery provide an outdoor home for adult mosquitoes. They also can enter houses, apartments and buildings through unscreened windows and doors. Many mosquitoes will breed in any container that holds water, such as flowerpots, wading pools or discarded tires. So avoiding those areas or removing any potential areas for mosquitoes to use as a breeding ground will reduce your risk of being bitten.
Some mosquitoes are active between dusk and dawn, when the air is calm. However, others will feed at any time of day. Mosquitoes prefer a warm, moist environment. They are active from early summer until late fall in the east coast. In southern states that have a warm year-round climate, mosquitoes that can transmit diseases are active year round.
Dark, vivid or contrasting clothing can be more visually stimulating to mosquitoes and therefore more attractive. Wearing more muted colors may help in reducing mosquitoes picking you out of a crowd.
The long-range attractant for female mosquitoes is carbon dioxide. As we (or other animals) breathe the carbon dioxide is picked up by wind currents, which the mosquito can detect. It will then follow the trail of CO2 until it gets close to its victim, at which point other indicators will be used to bite the person or animal. You give off more carbon dioxide when you are hot or have been exercising. A burning candle or other fire is another source of carbon dioxide that can attract them to you (or can be used to lure them away from you).
After mosquitoes have used carbon dioxide to get close to a bloodmeal, other indicators are used to actually pick out a victim. These include lactic acid (you release more lactic acid when you have been exercising or after eating certain foods such as salty foods, and high-potassium foods), body heat, natural skin oils, body scent (anything floral or fruity fragrances, like perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, can attract mosquitoes. Also watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets) and more. This is why some people are bothered by mosquitoes more than others.
Combining the knowledge of how to avoid mosquitoes with a repellent can keep you protected. Also, many conventional mosquito repellents contain the active ingredients DEET or picaridin. But there are more natural mosquito repellents available that may also work well. After all, repellents do have expiration dates and you may need to rely on natural means to repel them in a zombie apocalypse.
A mosquito repellent doesn’t actually kill mosquitoes. Repellents work by making people less attractive to mosquitoes, so they’re less likely to bite you.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). This is a natural, plant-based oil. It works as well at preventing mosquito bites as products that contain lower concentrations (6.65%) of DEET.
PMD is a version of oil of lemon eucalyptus that is produced in a lab. Repellents containing OLE or PMD may provide up to two hours of protection.
If you decide to try OLE, make sure you buy the insect repellent version and not “pure” oil of lemon eucalyptus (essential oil). They aren’t the same. The safety and effectiveness of the essential oil as an insect repellent is not clear. Also, OLE should not be used in children under age 3.
2-undecanone. This is derived from the tomato plant. It may offer 4.5 hours of protection from mosquitoes. It can be found in some insect repellents.
Catnip oil. This insect repellent is derived from the nepeta cataria plant. It may offer mosquito protection for seven hours, according to the EPA.
Many other natural ingredients are currently being studied as mosquito repellent. These include Fennel, Thyme, Clove Oil, Celery Extract and Neem Oil. However, more studies are needed to verify their safety and efficacy.
Natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils. Natural does not automatically imply ‘safe’. Many people are sensitive to plant oils. Some natural insect repellents are actually toxic. Therefore, although natural repellents provide an alternative to synthetic chemicals, please remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using these products.
Citronella Oil
Cinnamon Oil
Castor Oil
Rosemary Oil
Lemongrass Oil
Cedar Oil
Peppermint Oil
Geranium Oil
Possibly Oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Basil, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic
In the end, all bugs should be considered potentially dangerous. Even the cutest little butterfly that lands on your finger. You don’t know where it’s been or what diseases it’s carrying.
 DamnBlackHeart · Mon Dec 15, 2014 @ 01:20am · 0 Comments |
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