Insect bites Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus protects against


1. What insect bites does Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus protect against?

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus repels insects such as Mosquitoes, Sand Flies, Black Flies and Stable Flies as well as Ticks. Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus also repels annoying insects such as Midges and Land Leeches.


2. Are there any insects and insect bites to worry about in the UK?

Mosquitoes, Midges and Ticks are found in the UK. Mosquitoes and midges in the UK are not usually disease transmitters, but these insect bites can be uncomfortable. They are most prevalent during the summer months in gardens and the countryside, especially after dusk. Ticks are particularly prevalent in long grasses and wooded, leafy areas including in the New Forest.


3. Are ticks a type of insect?

No, ticks are arthropods - they are neither insects or spiders. However, they are often loosely referred to as insects in non-scientific literature.


4. Genera and species of insects and ticks

Anopheles Mosquitoes 

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus is an effective mosquito repellent that will help repel the Anopheles mosquito. They are found nearly worldwide (except Antarctica), with most being active either at dawn, dusk or at night. There are approximately 430 different types of Anopheles species.

Anopheles mosquitoes can be distinguished from other mosquitoes in several ways. Their palps are as long as the proboscis, they have blocks of black and white scales on their wings, and their typical resting position is with their abdomens sticking up in the air rather than parallel to the surface on which they are resting.

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus protects against Anopheles Mosquitoes
The Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus line of products, as well as other Citriodiol® (EC Oil (H/C)) based repellents, have been tested in both lab and field studies throughout the world against various Anopheles species including A. stephensi, A. freeborni, A. darlingi, A. albimanus, A. quadrimaculatus, A. arabiensis, A. mediopunctatus, A. gambiae and A. funestus.

 

Culex Mosquitoes

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus is an effective mosquito repellent that will help repel the Culex species of Mosquito (also known as the common house Mosquito). It ranges from the tropics to cool temperate regions, but does not extend to the extreme northern latitudes where only Aedes and Ochlerotatus occur. They are persistent biters who prefer to attack at dusk and after dark. They readily enter dwellings for blood meals.

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus protects against Culex Mosquitoes
The Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus line of products, as well as other Citriodiol® (EC Oil (H/C)) based repellents, have been tested against various Culex species of Mosquitoes in both lab and field studies throughout the world, with 100% protection measured in the field for up to 8 hours at 30% concentration.

 

Aedes Mosquitoes

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus is an effective mosquito repellent that will help repel the Aedes mosquito. It is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except Antarctica. They are opportunistic and aggressive biters, whose feeding peaks in the early morning and late afternoon. However, some types of Aedes (such as Aedes aegypti) are capable of breeding indoors and therefore bite throughout the day. This ability to breed indoors also makes them less susceptible to climatic variations and increases the mosquitoes’ longevity. Aedes mosquitoes have been able to expand their geographic distribution rather easily through the increase in international trade due to the fact that their eggs can withstand very dry conditions and remain viable for many months in the absence of water.

The Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus line of products, as well as other Citriodiol® (EC Oil (H/C)) based repellents, have been tested against various Aedes species of mosquitoes in both lab and field studies throughout the world, with 100% protection measured in the field for up to 8 hours at 30% concentration.

 

Biting Midge

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus is an effective midge repellent. There are over 4,000 species of biting midges, ranging in size from 1-3mm in length. The distribution of midges in the genus Culicoides is world-wide. They are found in marshy habitats, as well as mountainous regions, depending upon species. One of the areas most renowned for human feeding midges (typically Culicoides impuncatus) is the Highlands of Scotland, where midges can cause discomfort to tourists and disruption to outdoor industry, including agriculture and forestry. An estimated 20% of working hours are lost in the Scottish forestry industry each summer due to biting midge attacks, so a midge repellent that reduces the negative impact of midges is essential. 

Biting midges are a nuisance to anyone who enjoys being outdoors and their bites are irritating. They are most active in the early morning and evening, but can remain active all day when it is cloudy with little wind. Biting midges are often incorrectly referred to as Sand Flies.

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus is an effective midge repellent
The Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus line of products, as well as other Citriodiol® (EC Oil (H/C)) based insect repellents, have been tested against various biting midge species in both lab and field studies throughout the world. Studies show Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus is an effective midge repellent with a range of complete protection times of up to 7 hours based upon application rates and species.

 

Ticks

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus is an effective tick repellent. Ticks are members of the arachnid family. They are widely distributed around the world.  In the UK they are most prevalent in the New Forest. They thrive in countries with warm, humid climates because of the higher moisture content in the air which is good for their development. 

Ticks find their hosts by sensing breath, body odours, body heat, moisture and vibrations. They are not able to fly or jump. Instead they hold onto leaves and grass with their first pair of legs outstretched, waiting to climb onto a passing host, a behaviour referred to as “questing”. Once they have found a host, they attach themselves (very often where the skin is thinnest) and gorge on their host’s blood for several days. They often go unnoticed due to pain killers secreted in their saliva.  

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus is an effective tick repellent
The Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus line of products, as well as other Citriodiol® (EC Oil (H/C)) based repellents, have been tested against various tick species in both lab and field studies throughout the world. The results clearly support the use of Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus as an excellent tool in repelling ticks from attaching and feeding, with Complete Protection Times on par with 20 to 30% DEET products.

 
 

Sand Flies

Sand Flies are members of the Phlebotominae subfamily, which includes many genera of blood-feeding flies. They can be found in a wide range of habitats between latitude 50°N and 40°S (excluding New Zealand and the Pacific Islands), varying by species. They are often confused with other types of biting flies because the common name "sand fly" is also used generically when referring to other genera of biting flies. Sand Flies are small (2-3mm in length) and brownish in color in the daylight but their bodies are densely covered in oily hairs which give the insects a whitish, moth-like appearance when illuminated. The most distinctive feature of the sand fly is that they hold their wings in a raised 'V' while at rest, their wings are never closed or laid flat across the body.

Sand Flies are nocturnal feeders, with only the female responsible for biting and then sucking the blood of their host. The bites from a sand fly are irritating. They find shelter during the day in dark, humid places such as tree holes or under rocks. Sand Flies have very weak direct flight abilities, so they do not hover around their host, thereby reducing the perceived nuisance of the species.

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus protects against Sand Flies
Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent has been laboratory tested against the sand fly species Phlebotomus papatas and was highly effective, with a complete protection time of 8 hours and 94% repellency after 12 hours.

 
 

Land Leeches

Land Leeches are blood sucking ectoparasites that feed on mammals. They are common in tropical and sub-tropical rainforests. Most land leech species remain on the ground while awaiting a host then attach themselves to a person’s footwear and climb upwards. Once they are attached to a host, they are not easily removed. Some species do climb to higher vegetation during wet weather to await a host.

There are two primary methods of protection against Leeches, leech socks and repellents. Leeches have damp skin, making them very sensitive to various substances and chemicals. Repellents in leech infested areas are often applied to shoes, boots and to trousers tucked into socks from the ankle to the knee (with application to areas above the knee in areas where climbing land Leeches are prevalent). 

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus protects against Land Leeches
Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus has been tested against Land Leeches in both laboratory and field studies and was found to be highly effective providing complete protection for 6 hours in the field. With heavy spray intensity a high degree of protection was afforded for up to 24 hours.

 

Black Flies

Black Flies are small, ranging in size from 5 to 15mm, and black or grey in colour. They breed exclusively in running water. Because of their ability to filter dissolved organic matter and make it available to other species in the food chain, they are a keystone species in the ecology of water bodies. However, this trait also makes Black Flies very susceptible to both organic and inorganic pollution in our waterways, making them good indicator species for the ecological condition of fresh water streams and rivers.

Black Fly species vary in their preferred host for a blood meal, some preferring humans and others preferring birds and other mammals. Black Fly bites can be very uncomfortable.

Black Flies are active only during the day, with peak activity around 9:00 to 11:00am and again from 4:00 to 7:00pm. They tend to be most active on humid, cloudy days and just before storms. 

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus protects against Black Flies
Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus has been tested against the Black Fly species Simulium woodi in the field, with protection times nearing 4 hours.

 
 

Stable Flies

The Stable Fly (Stomoxys spp.) also called the barn fly, biting house fly, dog fly or power mower fly, is lighter in color than the common house fly and somewhat smaller in size, generally about 5-7mm in length. Unlike a house fly, its mouth parts have biting structures, rather than those built for sponging. Both male and female Stable Flies feed predominately on animals (mostly horses and cattle). However, they are known to bite humans in the absence of an animal host. 

Stable Flies can be found worldwide wherever suitable weather and feeding conditions are present. Their feeding increases during warm weather and decreases during rainy weather. They are daytime feeders, locating their host by sight and feeding from several hosts until full. After feeding Stable Flies are very sluggish and rest nearby their host in a sunny spot.

The accumulation of Stable Fly bites can cause anaemia and weight loss in livestock, a significant loss in milk production in dairy cattle and destroy cattle hides, causing economic losses in livestock related industries.

Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus protects against Stable Flies
Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent has been tested against the stable fly species Stomoxy calcitrans and was found to reduce biting by 94% for at least 5 hours.

 

5. What can I do to avoid these insect bites?

Always find out the most up-to-date information on biting insects and ticks for your travel destination. Websites like Know Before You Go provide such useful information. GPs and travel clinics can also offer valuable advice about the most effective preventative medication for your destination.

Mosquito bite prevention

Keep covered up
Most mosquitoes bite between dusk and dawn. Avoid exposing your skin by wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers. Aedes mosquitoes are mainly active during the day with their peak biting times shortly after sunrise and just before sunset. To avoid being bitten by these daytime biters avoid outdoor shady conditions and sleep under a mosquito net if you take a siesta.

Use effective insect repellent
If your skin is exposed then it is important to use a safe and effective insect repellent on all areas of exposed skin. 

Use a mosquito net at night
Mosquito nets provide very good protection especially when impregnated with the residual insecticide permethrin. Permethrin is poorly absorbed by the skin and has a low mammalian toxicity. There are a number of different styles of mosquito net and you should choose the one most suitable for where you are.

Air-conditioning
Sleeping in a room with air-conditioning will discourage mosquitoes. 

Use a plug-in insecticide vaporiser
Use a knockdown spray (any fly spray will do) to clear the room of mosquitoes. Plug-in insecticide vaporisers are very effective for overnight protection as long as the room is relatively free from draughts. The vaporisers consist of a heating pad onto which an insecticide soaked tablet is placed. The insecticide gradually vaporises throughout the night killing any mosquitoes that get into the room.

Spray mosquito breeding grounds
If you are staying for long periods in areas where mosquitoes are a problem, then remember that they breed in stagnant water. Mosquitoes lay eggs in as little as a quarter inch of standing water. A good mosquito bite prevention method is to ensure mosquito breeding areas within 500 yards of your accommodation are regularly sprayed or eliminated. 

Midge bite prevention

Midges are tiny swarming insects that are common in the Scottish Highlands during the summer months. Bites from midges do not transmit disease but the bites can be very uncomfortable. Mosi-guard® Lemon Eucalyptus will help stop midges from biting but not from swarming around you. You can avoid midges with anti-midge hats, midge body suits and midge netting (smaller than mosquito nets) to cover tent entrances. Natural remedies include garlic, marmite, yeast tablets, sprigs of bog-myrtle or burning citronella. 

Tick bite prevention

Tick bites are increasing in the UK and abroad. You must be aware that areas with ground cover, foliage and diverse wildlife can pose a risk of ticks. To prevent tick bites use an insect repellent and keep covered up. Tucking your trouser legs into your socks will help. After being outside in tick prone areas be sure to check your body, pets and clothing for ticks. Carry a tick remover so you can quickly remove ticks.