What’s the world’s deadliest animal? Many people say sharks, crocodiles, snakes or poisonous spiders. However, the bloodthirsty creature regularly considered to be the deadliest animal on Earth might not be what you’d expect.
The true answer is that mosquitoes are the animal capable of taking the most lives, killing more people in one day than sharks do in a century. What the pesky flies lack in size has more than made up for in the number of potentially fatal diseases they’re able to carry and spread rapidly.
Mosquitoes have been known to disseminate diseases and viruses including Malaria, Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya and Yellow Fever, all of which are dangerous and deadly diseases. Malaria alone killed more than 438,000 people in 2015 and 445,000 in 2016, and overall mosquito-borne diseases kill nearly 2.7 million people annually. The dangerous arthropods not only threaten half of the world population, but they also cause billions of dollars in lost productivity each year, causing a real problem in countries where they are prominent.
The mosquitoes are so deadly because they are an adaptable creature who is able to change easily to new environments, and some mosquitoes that feed on human blood have adapted well to urban environments and are able to breed and reproduce in small drops of water or large bodies of standing water. They can also reproduce quickly; one female mosquito can produce between 50 to 500 eggs in her first brood.
Not only are they able to survive and thrive in a wide variety of environments, but it’s also not difficult for them to transmit diseases. A mosquito can transmit a disease with a prick of its proboscis or mouth, which is made up of six needlelike stylets that pierce the skin, allowing them to suck a human’s blood and leave behind the bacteria that will ultimately cause the disease.
Mosquitoes also pose a threat to a larger number of animals. If they feed on infected birds, they can spread avian pathogens to humans or other mammals. They'll also bite into amphibians, reptiles, squirrels, rabbits and other small mammals.
With all of the above in mind, it’s time to make the most of mosquito repellents and keep yourself protected. From creams, wipes, sprays and bands, there are a variety of ways to ensure you’re protected, whilst you enjoy the heat. Check out our NEW range of Mosquito Repellent products, and choose the best ones for you. These have all been manufactured in the UK and tested to be highly effective against many biting insects, so they are really one-size fits all way of making sure you’re protected against pests when out there. They are natural, powerful plant-based formulations that show in testing to be as effective as synthetic chemicals but without the risk of side effects. They are moisturising to the skin, with a pleasant smell, benefit from being DEET & Alcohol-free and are even suitable for pregnant women and children as young as 6 months old.