As small as they are, mosquitoes can wreak a lot of havoc on individuals and nations. At the very least, mosquitoes leave itchy red bites on your body and will buzz in your ear, but they can also transmit deadly diseases like Yellow Fever, Malaria, the Avian Bird Flue, and West Nile Virus. In fact, mosquitoes infect as many as 700 million people every year. When many of those victims die and the others need medical treatment, it shouldn't be surprising that mosquitoes rank among the deadliest disease vectors in the world.

Traditional Protection

Individuals and nations have both developed many ways to combat mosquitoes and the diseases that they carry. Individuals usually rely on bug spray, mosquito nets, scented candles, and immunization for mosquito protection. These measures repel the insects or isolate the victims, but large-scale projects actually try to destroy the mosquitoes.

There are several ways to decrease a mosquito population. One is to destroy their habitat. Another is to increase the number of their predators. For example, dragonflies have proven very effective at reducing mosquito populations. And finally, you can kill the larvae or adult Mosquitoes using pesticides.

Unfortunately, pesticides and habit destruction take a heavy toll on the environment and human health. DDT is a pesticide that was used for several generations until scientists discovered that it negatively impacted bird populations and contributed to cancer, asthma, and diabetes in humans. Consequently, most developed countries had banned the use of DDT in agricultural development by 1980. Other pesticides have been developed in its place, but they are more expensive to produce and they tend to cultivate pesticide-resistant mosquitoes.

New Protection

One simple way to avoid the pollution, negative health effects, smell, and expense of pesticides, sprays and immunizations is to combat mosquitoes with light.

Light is an effective weapon against bites and disease because mosquitoes are highly susceptible to dehydration. That is why they are much more plentiful in swampy, wet areas than dry places. In addition to affecting their habitat, this susceptibility has made them develop aversion to direct sunlight. And, when the wavelength that mosquitoes avoid is reproduced by a commercial light bulb, it is 97% effective at repelling the insects.

In addition to being effective, a light bulb is an affordable, safe, and useful solution for mosquito protection. It has no negative impact on the environment or human health, it can provide thousands of hours of protection for thirty dollars or less, and it also provides illumination for evening study, games, and socializing.