Mosquitoes in Lanzarote
Oh yes… a question on many people’s lips… what about mosquitos in Lanzarote? Yes, we could wax lyrical about mozzies… and how fascinating they are… and how they effect the eco-system… and how many species there are… (yes, we’re yawning now too). But what YOU really want to know is… 1. How to kill them. 2. How to keep them away, and 3. How to take that awful itch away!
1. How to kill them.
There are many methods of killing the little blighters, including squishing them against walls (Don’t! It makes a hell of a mess. Squish them against something that won’t need repainting every time you do it.)
There are also many sprays available on the market, that when aimed at these little bloodsuckers, will work quickly and effectively. Your local Spar, Hiperdino, or MaxCoop will stock a variety of these for you.
If you fancy a bit more sport in your mosquito killing - then why not buy one of those electric fly zappers, and tone up those bingo wings at the same time?
Or perhaps dance like a dervish - swatting at everything in your sight. but do let us know so that we can come round and take a video ready to post on thissite for everyone’s entertainment :o)
2. How to keep them away
Okay - now it gets a little bit more “hit and miss”. So many differing opinions abound… so we’ll just tell you what works for us.
Garlic - don’t knock the power of this versatile little bulb. Mozzies hate garlic - and they also hate yeast. So make sure plenty of both is in your diet. That doesn’t mean 15 pints of beer, and a curry every night! We use garlic in so much of our cooking. Everything from the usual spag bol, to garlic bread, to salad dressings, and marinades. We even crush up half a clove into the dog’s food… to stop him getting bitten too.
We have also noticed however, that the longer we live here - the less we get bitten by mosquitos in Lanzarote. It certainly never seems to bother the locals. When we ask our Spanish friends, they just shrug and say they aren’t bothered by them.
Avon Skin So Soft is used by so many people (men too!) as a mosquito repellant - and with excellent results. because it’s not heavily perfumed, you can slap the stuff all over without a problem. It’s ok fellas… if anyone says anything - just tell them why you use it. You won’t lose any status because of it.
Plug-ins - Ok… many people swear by these. Personally, we’ve found them no good at all. But do make your own mind up with them.
Citronella candles - we haven’t tried this ourselves yet, but other have said it does seem to deter them. Why not let us know how you get on?
Mosquito screens. If you can… do invest i some mosquito screens for your windows. It means you can still have a lanzarote breeze through your windows at night, but without Mr Mozz and his family nipping in for a feast. However, if your door is wide open, they’ll just come in that way instead. Also screen any vets you may have too.
3. How to take that awful itch away
Right - the first thing to remember is… Don’t scratch! By scratching your skin you are doing two things. Firstly you are stimulating the nerve endings.. so it will itch and irritate more. Give it a sharp slap instead. this deadens the nerve endings instead.
Try spray on deodorant. I read this in a forum a few months back, and was not convinced. however, i thought I’d give it a go. And yes, it worked! Use a spray on deodorant and aim it at the bite. The cooling (and whatever else is in the spray) numbs the area, taking that irritation away for you. Don’t prolong the spray though, or you may risk freeze burn.
Other things to ensure
Make sure there is no stagnant water in or out of your home. That’s where the mosquitoes will lay their eggs. So empty out containers in the garden after the rain, and clear plant pots etc. Don’t worry about the pool though, as usually you will have chemicals in there that keep these little monsters at bay.
Picture courtesy of National Geographic
PS: I would just like to add… whilst I was typing this tonight, one of the blighters has been in and chomped on my leg. Obviously haven’t had enough garlic!
