Mosquito bites aren’t just itchy and annoying. They can cause dangerous diseases. These diseases affect millions of people each year. Experts recommend wearing long clothing to protect yourself from mosquito bites, but some types of clothing are better than others. And new research may soon offer more effective options for mosquito-proof clothing.
Mosquitoes have a system of mouthparts called a proboscis that they use to drink our blood. A mosquito proboscis can pierce thin fabric just as easily as it can pierce your skin. In addition, tightfitting clothing makes it easier for the mosquitoes’ mouthparts to reach the skin. Thicker, loose-fitting fabrics such as denim and nylon offer better protection.
Some clothing made today is treated with chemicals like insecticides [chemicals designed to kill insects]. Different types of mosquito repellents [chemicals designed to keep insects away]can be sprayed on clothing or skin as well. Mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of human sweat. Many repellents work by covering up this smell.
Recent research into non-chemical forms of protection from mosquito bites is showing promise as well. For example, researchers recently showed that a high-tech material called graphene can make clothing mosquito proof. Graphene is very thin and very strong. It is made of a single layer of carbon particles. The researchers showed that mosquitoes could not bite through the material. Graphene could also block the smell of sweat so the mosquitoes could not detect humans.
You probably don’t have high-tech mosquito-proof clothing just yet, but there are many things you can do to protect yourself from mosquitoes this summer.
What Do You Think? Why does graphene-layered clothing offer better protection from mosquitoes than other clothing options?
Photo Credit: James Gathany/CDC
