With the recent hot weather I am seriously fed up with insects, I used to be the kind of person who got eaten alive by the mossies and probably still would be were it not for the fact that I can now make myself 'incognito' and invisible to them - How ? By using the brilliant natural Incognito. Howard who runs the company contracted malaria and dengue whilst using anti-malarial tablets and Deet!
This led him to develop the Incognito range and he.is extremely knowledgeable about insects and explained to me why insects seem to be biting us more and why there seems to be so many more of them.
Howard says...'Many people are now receiving bites when in the past they hardly ever did, and one constant reason for this is that their body chemistry has changed, its much more common than one would imagine and can be triggered by milestones, such as menopause, puberty, pregnancy and even excessive stress. There doesn't even need to be a significant event for your body to change its chemical composition either - we're not talking about DNA changes, simply how you smell to insects (your kairomone output). Also, the latest research shows that about 1 in 10 lucky people have or develop a camouflage in their blood that masks their kairomones.
Howard agrees that there are more of the blighters around too...
'The cause of this is overall higher temperatures combined with increased water in the atmosphere - ideal conditions for bugs to breed. This major factor is exacerbated by the fact that quite a number of insects have built up resistance and tolerance to insect repellents, especially those that have been around for years, like the pesticide DEET (yes, we all know it is nasty stuff that takes off your nail varnish and melts certain plastics e.g. your camera. In fact it is also a neurotoxin that works in a similar way to Nerve gas!) For example: The Anopheles albamanus mosquito is even resistant to DDT, Deet and other toxic insecticides'
So the future is bright for 6 legged creatures but not so great for us, with an increase in insect-borne disease e.g. dengue fever endemic in the tropics The majority of this illness is caused by one particular type of insect, yes, you've guessed it, the mosquito. So, if you have not found a way to protect yourself from getting bitten, it really is about time you did because, as global temperatures continue to increase, so will insect populations increase further. Over 10,000 people were admitted to UK hospitals in 2012 following insect bites, mostly from mosquitoes, with serious outbreaks reported in Kent last year. With this heatwave I'm fearing this years statistics!
I avoided all potentially toxic insect repellents until I came across Incognito, its a natural repellent effective against all 3,500 different species of mosquito. However there are a few important tips for avoiding insect bites to consider...
How to avoid being bitten.
- Stay in at Dusk and Dawn Mosquito activity peaks then it is advisable to stay indoors at these times. You may need to be under a mosquito net if mosquitoes are entering your dwelling. NB Mosquitoes can and will bite through fabric, even thick jeans, so you can do one or a combination of these three things to shield yourself:..
- Apply incognito spray to your skin before dressing.
- Apply a protective solution of Java citronella or incognito spray to your clothing. (NB Java citronella is at least twice as effective as ordinary common citronella, because insects have not built up any resistance to it.)
- Use ambient safeguards such as incognito citronella incense sticks, or oil burners as these can halve the number of insects around you.
Don't wear black, blue and green! Studies show they will attract mosquitoes, as do floral patterns, so clothing should ideally be white. Light olive and light brown are also ok. Here is a useful acronym for basic protection: C.L.O.A.K.
C - Cover up arms and legs with suitable clothing.
L - Light coloured clothing is strongly advisable. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours.
O - Odours, bodily or otherwise like certain kairomones and perfumes are strong attractants. Therefore washing thoroughly which includes exfoliating with a loofah and using incognito hair & body wash is essential to minimise your attractiveness to biting & stinging insects.
A - Apply incognito spray & reapply when necessary.
K - Keep away from stagnant water.
- Don't burn candles as this invites insects in, burn Java citronella oil in an oil burner or citronella incense sticks instead.
- Spray incognito on and around your door before entering as mosquitoes often lay in wait on the outside of doors and windows and this simple procedure helps to keep them out of your dwelling.
- Wrap laundry up in plastic bags or other airtight containers and keep all luggage closed!
- Avoid all fragrances. Some, such as lavender actually attract insects - just look closely at a lavender bush! Be aware that most toiletries and sunscreens along with most fabric softeners contain scent. Be aware of your odour output.
- Use incognito soaps to be fully camouflaged. Nearly all ordinary soaps contain insect attractants making it very hard to avoid mosquito bites. Theres also an Incognito hair and body wash and a deodorant.
- Tuck your trousers into your socks when walking through the countryside, and spray liberally with incognito anti mosquito all over.
Howard Carter and Janey Lee Grace