There are hundreds of kinds of mosquito, but about three found in Thailand carry disease: Anopheles, Aedes and Culex mosquitoes. Both males and females feed on nectar from fruit or honey, but females start biting people and animals after mating, to feed the eggs growing inside them.
When a mosquito bites, it releases a saliva-like fluid that makes the skin itch and leaves a red bump. If the mosquito carries a disease, the germs enter the body at the same time.
Three mosquitoes to know
| Mosquito | When it bites | Where it breeds | Diseases it carries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aedes | daytime | still, clean water in containers around the house: jars, vases, old tyres | dengue, chikungunya, Zika |
| Anopheles | night | clean water in forests and foothills | malaria |
| Culex | dusk and night | dirty standing water, drains | Japanese encephalitis, some forms of filariasis |
If you develop a high fever after mosquito bites, especially in the rainy season, see a doctor rather than treating it yourself.
Stop them at the doors and windows
Coils and sprays help for a while, but the way that protects the whole house all day is to keep mosquitoes out in the first place, with insect screens on doors and windows that still let the breeze in.
- Use a fine enough mesh: home screens of about 16 × 16 to 20 × 20 mesh are small enough to stop mosquitoes.
- Close the gaps around the panel: mosquitoes get in through small gaps between frame and jamb. Check the brush seals and spline.
- Repair tears straight away: a small hole is enough. Where pets scratch often, use Pet Mesh on that panel.
Not sure which screen to choose? Read Which insect screen? Five types compared.
Break the cycle around your home
- Turn over or cover containers that hold water, and change the water in vases every 7 days: Aedes larvae take about 7–10 days to become mosquitoes.
- Clear away old tyres, cans and anything that collects rain.
- Level the ground around the house so no puddles stay after rain.
