are you tired of mosquitoes ruining your summer fun ah summer the time for backyard barbecues dips in the pool and evenings spent under the stars but as we all know these idilic summer scenes often come with an unwelcome guest the mosquito that familiar high-pitched wine is enough to send shivers down your spine and the itchy red welts that follow are a constant reminder of their presence but how much do we really know about these pesky insects turns out there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding mosquitoes let's dive in and separate fact from fiction so you can enjoy your summer without being eaten alive not always it's easy to assume that all mosquitoes are out to get us their tiny needles poised to suck our blood but here's the surprising truth not all mosquitoes feed on humans in fact there are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes worldwide and only a small fraction of them actually prefer human blood many mosquito species are perfectly content to dine on nectar and plant juices take for instance the males of most mosquito species they are completely harmless to humans their diet consisting solely of sweet nectar it's the females that we need to watch out for as they require a blood meal to develop their eggs we've all been told to be wary of mosquitoes at dawn and dusk but the truth is some mosquitoes don't stick to a strict timetable while it's true that certain species like the ones carrying West Nile Virus are most active during these Twilight hours others are active throughout the day the Asian tiger mosquito for example is an aggressive daytime biter and its presence can put a damper on outdoor activities even in broad daylight so don't let your guard down just because the sun is high in the sky remember mosquito activity can vary depending on the species temperature and humidity it's always a good idea to be prepared with repellent no matter the time of day section four myth number three no bite no problem think again ever been bitten by a mosquito without even realizing it you're not alone mosquitoes are Masters of Disguise when it comes to their bites their saliva contains an anesthetic that numbs the skin masking the pain of the bite until it's too late this delayed reaction is why we often don't feel the bite until the Telltale itch sets in sometimes hours later by then the mosquito has flown off leaving you with an itchy souvenir of its visit so just because you don't feel a bite doesn't mean you haven't been bitten it's important to be vigilant and protect yourself with repellent even if you don't don't think mosquitoes are [Music] around section five myth number four zap it away wishful thinking bug zappers citronellic handles ultrasonic devices the market is flooded with gadgets promising to banish mosquitoes from our backyards but do they actually work while some of these methods may offer a small degree of protection they are often not as effective as we'd like to believe bugs Dappers for example are more likely to kill beneficial insects than mosquitoes and citronella candles only provide a small radius of protection the most effective way to keep mosquitoes at Bay is to use a repellent containing DEET picaridin or oil of Lemon Eucalyptus these repellents have been proven to be safe and effective when used as directed section six myth number five it won't happen to me think again we often hear about mosquito born illnesses like Eastern equin analitis e and think that won't happen to me but the truth is these diseases are a serious threat and even a single bite can have devastating consequences ee for example is a rare but serious illness that can cause inflammation of the brain while the number of cases is relatively low the mortality rate is high with about 33% of people who develop the severe form of the disease dying remember it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transmit a disease don't take chances with your health protect yourself and your family by taking steps to prevent mosquito bites