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Mosquitoes are found all over the world, except in
Antarctica. NZ have 12 native mosquito and 4 exotic species –
1 arrived here on an American whaling ship in the 1840s and the rest
came from Australia.
Mosquito numbers soar when fuelled by conditions
such as a warm climate, damp ground and stagnant water.
Fortunately, none of NZ’s mozzies carry debilitating diseases, as
mosquitoes do overseas, but scientists warn it is only a matter of
time before that changes!
Increased trade and tourism means a higher risk of
insect hitch-hikers arriving in NZ, such as the deadly Asian tiger
mosquito discovered at Auckland Ports in August, despite the best
efforts of authorities such as MAF Biosecurity to keep them out.
That, combined with increasing numbers of visitors and NZ’ers
returning from overseas holidays with malaria, dengue fever, and the
Ross River virus – raise the chances that a NZ mosquito will bite an
infected person and carry the disease to another victim or an animal
spreading it further.
WHY DO MOSQUITOES BITE? Only the female bites, male
mosquitoes feed primarily on flower nectar. The female needs blood for her eggs
to develop. She usually feeds every 3 to 4 days; in a single feeding, she
consumes more than her own weight in blood. Certain species of mosquitoes prefer
to feed at twilight or night time; others bite mostly during the day. Some
mosquito species prefer to feed on animals and others would rather have human
blood.
Mosquitoes can sense you are there from up to 36 meters –
depending on the species, they can pick up movement, body heat and the CO2 in
your breath. They are also attracted by some body odours, and that's why they
bite some people more than others.
NZ’ers can protect themselves, their homes and families from
mosquitoes, through simple measures such as getting rid of water-filled
containers in the garden, using mosquito repellent, covering up when they come
out to feast and using NO Mosquitoes from Kiwicare.
NO Mosquitoes spray will keep mosquitoes under control in
your home, garden, BBQ, swimming pool and decking area this summer. Just one
spray application to walls, window sills, trellis, seating, decking and other
hard surfaces where mosquitoes linger will provide you with up to 6 months
protection from the wee nasties!
NO Mosquitoes will not stain or smell. It works by killing
anything that lands on a surface treated with the product, and will continue
to do so for up to 3 months outside and up to 6 months inside, depending
on exposure to sunlight.
Available from all good hardware stores in a 250ml concentrate &
500ml RTU trigger spray.
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