Specimen · Mosquitoes
Did you know?
Only female mosquitoes bite — they need blood to develop their eggs. The Aedes that spreads dengue bites mostly in the early morning and late afternoon.
Signs to look for
- Bites during the day, especially on ankles
- Wigglers (larvae) in water drums, saucers and gutters
- Swarms at dusk around plants
Why it matters
- Dengue, chikungunya and Zika (Aedes)
- Filariasis and Japanese encephalitis (Culex)
- El Niño does not stop them: covered water stores become breeding sites
Where they hide
- Plant saucers and flower vases
- Uncovered water drums and pails
- Clogged gutters and old tyres
- Shady plants and under furniture
What you can do today
- Cover, empty and scrub water containers every week
- Turn over anything that can hold rainwater
- Use screens and repellent, morning and late afternoon