夏天是蚊虫活跃的季节。被蚊子叮咬不仅让人心烦意乱，还可能对健康构成威胁。除了驱蚊剂、电子灭虫灯以外，还有哪些可以防蚊、驱蚊的方法？本文介绍常见的防蚊和驱蚊措施。

词汇：protection from insects 防虫

Summer is a great time of year – but, unfortunately, it's not just us humans that enjoy it. Mosquitos seem to make the most out of the season by biting us, and as well as being annoying, mosquito-borne diseases can be dangerous. What can we do to avoid getting bitten?

The most obvious answer is to use mosquito repellent. Professor James Logan from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine explains that DEET, the chemical used in many repellents, confuses the insects' sense of smell, making it difficult to recognise humans. Though be careful – as biologist Roger Eritja points out – any bits of skin that aren't covered by repellent are still likely to get bitten. Logan also recommends using plug-in insecticides to kill or repel mosquitos in the room. However, it might be best to avoid using electric bug zappers. Daniel Markowski from the American Mosquito Control Association highlights that mosquitos are only a small proportion of the number of insects they kill, and that many of the others are beneficial.

Clothing is another consideration that affects whether mosquitos choose to attack us. Amy Glover, writing in the Huffington Post, tells us that dark colours attract mosquitos. James Logan adds that loose clothing is preferable as it is harder for mosquitos to bite through – they're even able to penetrate jeans if they are worn tightly. 

Light, loose clothing also means people sweat less. A 2019 study showed that mosquitos are able to use the smell of human sweat to find their victims. This is why Homes editor Katie Mortram recommends taking a shower before bed to avoid getting bitten. Another way to stop the smell of your sweat attracting mosquitos is to use deodorant to disguise the smell of your sweat. Masie Vollans – a researcher into mosquito ecology, points out that a compound found in deodorants has been shown to stop mosquitos landing on the skin.

What we eat and drink may also have an impact on how attractive we are to mosquitos. Vollans mentions two studies that found drinking beer and eating bananas can make people more attractive to mosquitos.

So, as well as using repellents and insecticides, thinking about our clothing, reducing our sweat and changing what we eat and drink could help to reduce the risk of mosquito bites.

词汇表

bite 叮，咬
mosquito-borne disease 由蚊子传播的疾病
mosquito repellent 驱蚊剂
tropical medicine 热带医学
DEET 避蚊胺（常见防蚊液成分）
insect 昆虫
skin 皮肤
insecticide 杀虫剂
bug zapper 灭虫灯
attack 攻击
attract 吸引
penetrate 穿过，穿透
sweat 出汗，流汗
victim 牺牲品
deodorant 体味除臭剂
land on 落在，停在

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Why can mosquitos be dangerous?

2. How does DEET repel mosquitos?

3. What is important to remember when applying repellent?

4. True or False? Bug zappers are a good way to get rid of mosquitos.

5. According to the article, which colours are best to wear to avoid mosquito bites?

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Mosquito-_______ diseases can be dangerous.

lifted                     borne                          taken                  brought

2. Electric bug _______ are not always effective.

repellent               insecticides                gels                    zappers

3. Putting _______ on your skin can stop bites.

bait                       sweat                         repellent              protector

4. Mosquitos can bite _______ tight clothing.

at                          through                       over                    towards

5. _______ kills mosquitos.

Repellent              Tropical medicine       Insecticide          Sweat

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. Why can mosquitos be dangerous?

Because mosquito-borne diseases can be dangerous.        

2. How does DEET repel mosquitos?

DEET confuses mosquitos' sense of smell. 

3. What is important to remember when applying repellent?     

It is important to cover every bit of skin. 

4. True or False? Bug zappers are a good way to get rid of mosquitos.        

False. Mosquitos only make up a small proportion of the insects killed by zappers, and many of the others are beneficial. 

5. According to the article, which colours are best to wear to avoid mosquito bites?

The article says that it is best to wear light colours to avoid mosquito bites.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Mosquito-borne diseases can be dangerous.

2. Electric bug zappers are not always effective.       

3. Putting repellent on your skin can stop bites.

4. Mosquitos can bite through tight clothing.

5. Insecticide kills mosquitos.